Plans to improve popular National Trust gardens submitted to council

The application for Trelissick Gardens includes a new 250-space car park and a reconfiguration of how visitors enter the site

Artist's impression of how the restored Grade II-listed walled garden at Trelissick Gardens could look once complete
Author: Richard Whitehouse, Local Democracy ReporterPublished 19th Dec 2022
Last updated 19th Dec 2022

Improvements at a popular National Trust garden, new homes next to a hotel and plans for a hotel to expand with new rooms are all among the latest planning applications submitted this week to Cornwall Council.

Every week more than 100 applications are validated by the council and we have selected some of the more interesting proposals.

All planning applications submitted to the council have to be validated and are available for inspection by the public. Anyone is also allowed to submit comments about the applications – whether in support or objection.

The majority of planning applications are decided by planning officers at Cornwall Council under delegated powers. However some applications will go before elected councillors who sit on planning committees.

No dates have been set for when the planning applications below will be determined. They can be viewed by going to the planning portal on Cornwall Council’s website at www.cornwall.gov.uk/planning-and-building-control/.

National Trust garden improvements

A planning application has been submitted for the development of visitor infrastructure at Trelissick Gardens in Feock. The improvements include a new 250-space car park and a reconfiguration of how visitors enter the site.

The Trelissick estate covers 255 hectares and was gifted to the National Trust in 1955 and in a design and access statement it says that it is “one of the Trust’s most significant visitor business properties in the South West”.

It says that visitor numbers are expected to continue to increase having risen from 126,000 in 2013/14 to 225,000 in 2019/20. The document explains that “the current arrangement for parking will not accommodate the expected rise in visitor numbers”.

It adds: “Even under current circumstances it causes traffic management problems and safety issues. Other infrastructure including the food and beverage facilities are at capacity and cannot manage existing visitors nor absorb additional ones.”

The proposals include removing car parking from its current location next to Grade II-listed buildings and plans to restore a Grade II-listed walled garden. The changes would “transform visitor arrival”.

For more information and to submit comments search for planning application number PA22/10184.

New homes next to hotel

The third and fourth phases of a development of new homes next to the Penventon Hotel in Redruth have been revealed. Planning permission was previously granted for up to 91 homes on the site and since then the development has been delivered in stages.

In the latest planning application Little Vauxhall is seeking permission for 26 affordable houses and six open market properties. Documents explain that the number of affordable homes provided on the site has increased since the original plans were agreed.

A design and access statement says that the original permission required 20 affordable homes to be provided. However the first two phases have already delivered 51 affordable homes and the third phase will provide another 26.

The document states: “This is a response to an identified shortfall in the availability of affordable housing in the area, and the developer has already identified a potential housing association provider who have input into the design of the scheme to help provide the types of properties that are in highest demand.”

To find out more about the development or to submit comments search for planning application number PA22/09789.

Hotel expansion plans

A hotel has submitted a planning application to extend with an extra floor to add four guest bedrooms, a sundeck and leisure facilities. Kerenza Hotel at Flexbury, Bude, has submitted the plans to Cornwall Council.

Under the proposals the hotel wants to build the additional floor on a two storey rear wing along Flexbury Avenue.

A design and access statement submitted with the application explains: “Although the impact of Covid-19 and the resulting lockdowns has been very hard on the hotel industry the new owners have rebranded the Hebasca Hotel as the Kerenza Hotel and are now prepared to invest further to improve its overall viability by adding a second floor to create four new large guest bedrooms with balconies and to incorporate a lift.”

It adds: “In order to help justify the risks involved in making such an investment and following further consideration of what the hotel has to offer holiday makers in Bude the new owners are also proposing to create a sundeck on the flat roof above the new second floor with a small swimming pool and jacuzzi.”

To view the plans or to submit comments search for planning application number PA22/10287.

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