A legal challenge against plans to limit second home ownership in a popular Cornish seaside town has failed.

RLT Built Environment Ltd attacked a decision by Cornwall Council, taken in March, to hold a local referendum on the making of the St Ives Neighbourhood Development Plan.

In May, more than 80% of residents voted for a plan, which included a clause restricting new housing for occupancy as a principal residence.

It came about after the number of second homes in St Ives topped 25% of the total housing stock and the demand showed no signs of abating.

RLT, a Penzance-based architectural firm, claimed that the plan's residency requirements were incompatible with Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights - which relates to private and family life - and contrary to the requirements for strategic environmental assessment deriving from European Union law.

High Court judge Mr Justice Hickinbottom said that St Ives was a highly desirable tourist and leisure destination and it was unsurprising that, with adjacent Carbis Bay, it had one of the highest proportion of second homes and holiday lets in Cornwall.

Giving his ruling in Bristol on Thursday, he said that any potential interference with the Article 8 rights of some future owner of one of the dwellings with the restriction was justified.

The restriction was in pursuit of legitimate public interests identified in Article 8 - the interests of the economic well-being of the country and the protection of the rights and freedoms of others - and was in accordance with the law.

RLT's argument that the restriction was not necessary in that it was disproportionate in its effect, and its criticism of the balancing exercise performed by the council, was also rejected by the judge.

The challenge on strategic environmental assessment also failed.