A developer has been refused permission to build a house in place of an existing holiday let in Coverack.

Cornwall Council planning officer Martin Jose turned down Drenbre Ltd's application for the Thornhill site at North Corner, on which two houses have already been built and a further two are in the process of being built.

There had been ten public letters of objection and St Keverne Parish Council had also recommended refusal, believing the applicant should get the existing building changed to residential use rather than replace it with a larger house.

When giving his reasons for refusal, Mr Jose said: "This proposal states that it will replace an existing unrestricted holiday let on the property. There is no planning history for this unit such that it is not clear whether this use is lawful as it has not been demonstrated how long this has been in existence and what it has been used for.

"The building has the appearance of a converted garage/outbuilding that is within close proximity to the main dwelling of Thornhill."

He said he considered the proposal a "poor quality form of development which would fail to take the opportunity for improving the character and quality of the surrounding area and the way it functions, which is designed an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty."