Former Cornwall military camp could be turned into beach houses
New plans have been submitted for a development at Penhale Camp
Last updated 27th Apr 2022
New plans have been revealed for the redevelopment of a former military camp with beach houses.
CABU has submitted a planning application for the new development at Penhale Camp near Holywell Bay.
The application seeks to demolish some of the Ministry of Defence (MOD) buildings on the site, build nine beach houses and refurbish some of the existing buildings. These include a bungalow to create a two-bedroom house and the existing farmhouse to create two semi-detached properties.
Under the plans the new homes will be a mix of two-bedroom, three-bedroom and four-bedroom properties. There will be 23 parking spaces provided on the site for the new homes.
A design and access statement submitted with the plans says: "The proposal seeks to improve the existing brownfield site through careful masterplanning and landscape design. The designs will address the complexity and challenges of the context and site".
In a planning statement the applicants explain that as well as the plans for beach houses they have also submitted a separate application for 67 holiday cabins. This sits alongside plans for leisure facilities including a spa, swimming pool and sauna.
In a pre-application document the applicants highlighted that Cornwall Council previously granted planning permission for the Penhale Camp site for 132 homes and commercial buildings. That planning permission has never been implemented.
The new plans suggest a mix of properties which would include residential development alongside holiday homes. All the development is confined to the former Penhale Training Camp and using sites which had previously been built on.
In the planning statement the applicants say: "The site is a highly prominent brownfield site that has been vacant since the MoD ended operations in 2010 and is in dire need of repurposing to secure a viable alternate use. The application proposals represent an appropriate and efficient use of previously developed land that would deliver a number of economic, social and environmental gains.
"The significant planning benefits arising from this scheme can be summarised as follows:
It will provide 12 high quality residential units;
It will provide a valuable contribution to housing supply in Cornwall;
It will promote sustainable travel to deter car dependency;
It will be highly attractive and result in a significant betterment compared to the existing utilitarian built form associated with the site’s former use; and
It will create a highly attractive development to assist in local placemaking".
No date has yet been set for when a decision will be made about the planning application. To comment on or view the plans search for application number PA22/02794 on the planning portal on Cornwall Council's website.