The first planning bulletin concerning proposals in Bodmin contains some disappointing news for the 40 residents who objected to proposals to build 58 homes on land surrounding Pandarosa Farm.

PA23/07573: Proposed erection of 58 residential dwellings (Use Class C3) together with associated infrastructure, drainage, open space and landscaping.

Wainhomes submitted plans to build the market housing on the land, which should include land set aside for a primary school – which is the reason the developer said it was unviable for them to include affordable housing within this plot.

At a recent Bodmin Town Council planning meeting, we heard concerns from residents who ‘felt ignored’ by their Cornwall Council division member, who had declined to call it in to be decided by a committee of councillors instead leaving it to be decided by a planning officer (who, it should be noted, is also overseeing the application by the same developer for 540 homes at Halgavor Moor).

The council member didn’t attend the meeting – and while Bodmin Town Council took the time to listen to the residents, all we could do was convey that disappointment. We had resolved to ask for a meeting with the Cornwall Council divisional member and the planning officer but it would appear it was too late as the development was approved on March 20, 2026.

One of the items of concern is the agreement between the developer and the council which relates to the land set aside for the primary school. In short – the developer will sell the land to the council for £1, and if the school isn’t built within ten years, the council is obliged to hand back the potentially valuable development land back to the developer for the same price.

With Wainhomes getting planning approval for the 58 open market homes, there is a possibility that in a decade’s time, we end up in a situation where Bodmin doesn’t have a much needed school in that part of the town, and the developer gets the land back to build more houses.

There are, concerning parallels with a similar situation which was on Gilbert Road a fair few years ago now. Land was set aside for a school there as part of one of the endless masterplans that we’ve all heard much about over the years but, as you’ll no doubt observe, the school was never built with the reason citing a ‘fall in the birth rate’.

I’m sure that we will continue to make the case for the new school and hope that Cornwall Council divisional members both present and future join us in making sure it happens – as it will be more than just a missed opportunity if it does not. Over to you, Cornwall Council.

You can view the full planning application here: https://planning.cornwall.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=S16TT9FGL7C00