The site is in a protected National Landscape, formerly an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and the land proposed for development is designated as having heritage and scenic value. According to Daily Mirror - Main, Garth Shephard, a Mevagissey resident and former parish council member, described the land as already designated for heritage and scenic value. Planning officers had recommended approval, citing a previous appeal where an inspector found development would not cause significant harm to the National Landscape, but councillors voted against the proposal, with the chair casting the deciding vote. The exact vote count or breakdown among councillors on the planning committee has not been disclosed, and it is unclear what specific reasons councillors gave for voting against the proposal beyond the chair's deciding vote.
Westcountry Land Enterprises (SW) Ltd submitted the application for permission in principle for the development, which Cornwall Council's central area planning committee considered earlier this month. According to Daily Mirror - Main, Garth Shephard described the proposal as aiming to cherry-pick the best and most scenic site in the village to build expensive million-pound houses, arguing that the scenic beauty of Mevagissey is for everybody, not to be selective among the wealthiest people. The rejection comes in a context where over a quarter of homes in Mevagissey are second homes, and a detached house in the village averages over half a million pounds. According to Daily Mirror - Main, Garth Shephard noted that this makes it very expensive for local people to get a home, even affordable ones priced in relation to the local market value. The current status of affordable housing availability in Mevagissey beyond these general statements about pricing remains uncertain, and it is unknown whether Westcountry Land Enterprises will appeal the council's decision or how many objections were formally submitted by the community against the proposal.
The proposal that was put forward was to cherry pick the best and most scenic site in the village in order to build expensive million-pound houses.
The scenic beauty of Mevagissey is for everybody, not to be selective amongst the wealthiest people.
Mevagissey is a thriving coastal village which is very attractive to second home owners. Now over a quarter of homes in Mevagissey are second homes.
This means that for local people it is very expensive for them to get a home, even if it's an affordable home because affordable homes are priced in relation to the local market value.
The land on which they proposed to build is already designated as of heritage and scenic value.