®Planning appeal decision
Poldhu Stables, Altarnun, Launceston, Cornwall, PL15 7SA
Planning appeal 6002086 at Poldhu Stables, Altarnun, Launceston, Cornwall, PL15 7SA (Cornwall Council) was dismissed on 23 April 2026 by Inspector Kent R, following a hearing. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the site is in a suitable location having regard to the development plan policies concerned with housing in the countryside with particular reference to the re-use of rural buildings and whether there is an essential need for a dwelling to accommodate a rural worker.
Change of use of office/store to staff accommodation for residential purposes solely in connection with the associated equestrian business (Retrospective Application)
- Authority
- Cornwall Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Hearing
- Development
- residential · Change of use
- Inspector
- Kent R
- Postcode
- PL15 7SA
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the site is in a suitable location having regard to the development plan policies concerned with housing in the countryside with particular reference to the re-use of rural buildings and whether there is an essential need for a dwelling to accommodate a rural worker.
What decided it
The Inspector found that the adverse impact of the development on the settlement strategy, arising from its isolated, unsustainable location and the failure to demonstrate essential need for a rural worker's dwelling, significantly and demonstrably outweighed the benefits of the proposal.
The moderate harm to the settlement strategy and conflict with CLP policies 2, 3 and 7 and DPD policies C1 and T1 significantly and demonstrably outweighed the moderate benefits of an additional low-cost rural worker dwelling and moderate economic benefits, so the presumption in favour of sustainable development did not apply.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy 1Policy 2Policy 3Policy 7Policy 8Policy 21Policy C1Policy T1Policy ENV1
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11Paragraph 84Paragraph 232
- Judgments
- Braintree DC v SSCLG, Greyread Ltd & Granville Developments Ltd [2018] EWCA Civ 610; City and Country Bramshill Ltd v SSHLG and others [2021] EWCA Civ 320
How the Inspector dealt with each one is set out in the app, in order: the development plan, national policy, housing land supply, other considerations and the planning balance, beside the letter.
See how each was appliedThe decision letter
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With an account
What an account adds to this decision
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The main issues, what decided it, the planning balance and the policies and judgments listed as cited are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro and are our summary, not the Inspector’s words; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.