A well known Porthleven pub could be turned over to developers if planning permission is sought following pre-application advice.

The owners of The Atlantic Inn on Peverell Terrace submitted a pre-application statement to Cornwall Council’s planning department so they could test the water over turning the pub into two houses, possibly with four flats to the rear.

In their design statement, Adrian and Leigh Santi said they have spent several years trying to sell the premises as a business, but have met with no success, despite dropping the asking price from £950,000 in 2008 to £795,000 in May this year.

Mrs Santi said: “We feel the pub could go back to being residential because it was built as a house in 1846 and stayed as such until the 1930s when it became a temperance hotel, then in the 1960s it was made into a private member club, it didn’t actually become a pub until the late 60s.

“We are surrounded by houses apartments and cottages there are no other shops or business buildings.

“The site which includes a car park for about 10 cars in its current configuration, could offer a development opportunity to someone to create much needed housing in Porthleven.”

In a written advice statement Matthew Doble, a senior development officer at Cornwall Council, said while residential development at the site was acceptable in principle it would have to be demonstrated that the loss of the pub as “a social community hub” would not harm the community.

He said: “It would need to be demonstrated that not only is there no ongoing business demand to continue use of the premises [and] that alternative facilities are available within walking, cycling or public transport distance.

“Marketing of the property at an appropriate value for a period of at least 12 months would establish whether there is any business interest in continuing the current use.”

He added that the availability of alternative venues would need to be based upon “a local knowledge of the different markets that are served by similar but different alternative facilities.”

Mr Doble’s report also stated that the pub could potentially be nominated by the parish council or a community group as an asset of community value under the Localism Act 2011.

This would mean that if the site were put up for sale, the council or group would be given time to come up with a bid for the pub so that it could remain open for the community. However this would not mean that the Santis would have to sell to the community.

Mr Doble concluded: “The key consideration will be the loss of the public house facility upon the community.

“A combination of marketing as well as a demonstration that suitable alternative facilities exist in proximity to the site would need to be provided. Only should these factors be robustly demonstrated would an alternative use for residential be given officer support.”