Plans to replace hotel with flats in Newquay refused

Plans to demolish a former hotel in Newquay and replace it with a modern block of flats have been refused planning permission.

The planning application to pull down the former Offshore Hotel in Pentire and replace it with seven flats went before Cornwall Council’s central sub-area planning committee this morning.

Planning officers had recommended the plans for approval saying that it was a better design than an alternative development which was previously granted outline planning permission.

Objections to the plans had been lodged by Newquay Town Council, local residents and local Cornwall councillor Joanna Kenny.

They were all concerned about the size and height of the proposed four-storey building and how a section at the front would protrude.

There were also concerns that the proposals had gone before the Cornwall Design Review Panel which had made several recommendations – objectors said that while some of these had been taken on board not all of them had.

Stephen Hick from Newquay Town Council said that the proposals were against policies in the town’s neighbourhood development plan due to the size and scale of the planned building.

An agent for the applicants said that the proposals were “a vast improvement on the existing building and the existing outline approval”.

He said that the plans had “on the whole have been very well received”.

Cllr Kenny said that there were still concerns about the design of the planned building and “the appendage that sticks out at the front to provide stairs and a lift”.

She said that the new building would “dominate” the street and said that it would be “looming over” a new wildflower meadow which had been planted in the area.

Cllr Kenny added: “This might be a great building in a town but not Pentire.”

Committee member John Symons said that he was concerned about the proposals saying: “It is the height – I think it will set a precedent for everything else.”

But Chris Batters proposed that the application should be approved as recommended by planning officers.

He said: “As it stands I would find it difficult to go against this one. It is going to be difficult to find grounds to avoid it going to appeal. I am happy to propose it in line with the recommendation.”

However, when put to the vote the proposal was lost with just four councillors in favour and nine against.

Alan Jewell proposed refusal saying: “I don’t agree that it blends in with the area at all.

“The design review panel don’t like it and I think it does stand out – it is a storey too high – with the stairwell and the lift sticking out.

“It is clearly higher than the other two buildings (either side of the site) and does not blend in at all.”

Cllr Jewell proposed that the application be refused for not fitting with the character of the area and being against policies in the Newquay Neighbourhood Plan.

The application was refused with nine votes in favour and four against.