Neighbours left stunned after council gives permission for new home that leaves them 'with no privacy'

Developers Gilbert and Goode have talked up the new homes as "delightful", "spacious" and "perfectly designed" - but residents have slated the properties as "terrible for all of us".

Farah Bell, who lives in one of the affected existing homes, said "all" the residents have complained and claimed that none of the locals were consulted by either the council or Gilbert and Goode.

Bell said developers claimed locals hadn't made any objections, but she added that "nobody knew it was happening" in the first place.

However, Gilbert and Goode - with council backing - have disputed the allegations, saying that residents had been notified via letter and that they had publicised their planning application in the area.

And politicians have also weighed into the row, with former Tory MP Derek Thomas and his Lib Dem successor Andrew George both stating the new homes "shouldn't have passed planning" and local councillor John Martin slating the development as "unbelievable".

Bell told CornwallLive: "The council has told me the matter is closed, and if I'm not happy to go to the Local Government Ombudsman - everyone is washing their hands of it."

Lynnette Sullivan, another resident, told the outlet that she had also complained to the council to no avail, and said the new homes had "come as quite a shock".

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Cornwall Council's head of development management, Hayley Jewels, had written to Bell defending the new homes after reviewing her complaint, calling the planning decision "sound" and "acceptable".

Jewels wrote: "I understand that new development can appear striking when under construction, especially if there was no development there beforehand, and that the scaffolding and presence of construction workers can create a perception of overbearing and overlooking."

She added that the allegedly offending windows served bedrooms and hallways - not "primary rooms" in planning terms - and ruled out conducting a site visit, which has prompted fury from residents.

Bell said: "We've all been totally s**t on from a great height... What's the point of the council? They can authorise this and impact all of our lives and yet they can't reverse it.

"They keep going on about poverty... I've had my house valued since this and I've lost £50,000, which I have in writing, because of that house overlooking. I'm a single mum who bought this house to ensure my children had something, but it's now lost its value."

A Cornwall Council spokesperson said the authority "has carefully considered the concerns raised by residents in Boscarnek", adding that "the concerns raised around overbearing and overlooking were considered during the determination of the planning application in 2022, and the position of the properties are considered to be acceptable in planning terms".

The spokesperson added that since the development had been carried out "in accordance with the approved plans", enforcement action was not an option, and urged further concerns to be tabled through Cornwall Council's website.

A Gilbert and Goode spokesperson said: "We are providing much-needed affordable homes for rent and shared ownership in St Erth to help local people with housing.

"We're sorry to hear that a neighbour of our development at Boscarnek has some concerns about the proximity of a property. We held a public consultation from November 2021 about the revised plans for the development and provided plenty of time and opportunity for feedback on the changes. The local parish council also published details of these changes and how to comment on the plans.

"An up-to-date site map and planning information was included in the consultation documents showing clearly the site's layout. The planning application was approved by Cornwall Council.

"Neighbouring properties to the development were informed by letter about the planning application, as well as all the information being available online to be viewed at any time. We are always here to speak to and welcome feedback, as being part of the community is important to us at Gilbert and Goode."