A planning officer at Cornwall Council said the case was "finely balanced" A proposal to build affordable homes in Cornwall has been criticised by a town council and councillor. Developer L James applied for permission in principle to build nine affordable homes on land south of Bella Vista at Sandy Lane in Redruth. But Redruth Town Council and Councillor Connor Donnithorne voiced opposition to the plans due to the impact on the surrounding area. A planning officer at Cornwall Council, who recommended the application be approved, said the case was "finely balanced". A meeting of the Cornwall Council west area planning committee will consider the application on 11 November, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said. Donnithorne said: "I cannot support development in this area given that it would have an impact on existing highways and would open this currently undeveloped part of town." The town council unanimously agreed not to support the application on the grounds the proposals were not in accordance with the emerging Redruth Neighbourhood Development Plan. In a report to the committee, a case officer said the need for affordable housing in the area outweighed any harm that would be caused by the development of the site.