Hotel planned for beauty spot shelved

2:33pm Friday 8th August 2008

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A plan to carry out a £25 million hotel development on one of Cornwall’s most picturesque beaches has been shelved.

A consultation meeting with the public, which threw a barrage of protests to the developers, has led to the Pendower hotel redevelopment on the Roseland Peninsular going back to the drawing board.

Up to 100 residents attended two sessions at Veryan Sports and Social Club on Wednesday to hear about the proposed redevelopment of the Pendower Beach House Hotel.

Truro-based planning consultants Laurence Associates presented the plans to create a 63-suite hotel, complete with spa, gym and pool, together with Eden Project architects Grimshaw, who were responsible for drawing up the plans.

But the feedback was not good, with some residents furious at what was being put forward. Now the plans have been shelved and new proposals will be drawn up that will reflect the public opinion.

John Goldsmith, chairman of RPH, said: “I hope that the public can see that Roseland Peninsula Homes is progressive, but not at the expense of the local environment as enhancement through development is our primary objective.

“The constructive comments made by members of the local community were welcomed and RPH will now move forward to a further proposal that will seek to accommodate the views of the community insofar as that is possible.”

Paul Bateman, planning partner at Laurence Associates, said residents had been given the chance to comment and that was what they did.

“It has been decided to have a complete re-think and not take these particular proposals any further,” he said.

The original plans included a 120-cover restaurant with outdoor terrace space and bar. The existing Pendower Beach Hotel closed in May.

The Pendower Beach Hotel has been little unused for almost a year. Nestled at the head of a wooded valley owned by the National Trust, the nearby beach is well used in the summer by local residents.

One resident who did not wish to be named told the developers: “This is a disgrace and you should be ashamed of yourself.”

Another said they were in “cloud cuckoo land and wasting everyone’s time by suggesting the scheme.

None present at the meeting was in favour of the plan.