The man behind a proposed masterplan for Porthleven Shipyard will have to wait a little longer to find out its fate.

Trevor Osborne's Porthleven Harbour and Dock Company had asked for planning permission to demolish a section of industrial buildings on the shipyard and convert another, to create a performance space and three-storey building with a new medical centre on the ground floor and four residential apartments on the first and second floors.

The metal works performance building would be positioned centrally on the site and immediately to the north of Celtic House, to house a multi-use auditorium for film and event screenings, entrance foyer and café/bar.

The existing structure will be retained and extended, with the existing corrugated metal and translucent sheeting on the roof and upper part of the walls - said to be in a poor state of repair - replaced with moss green coloured coated corrugated zinc cladding, and render below.

The front would have automatic entrance doors, with folding/sliding screens each side, to enable the cafe/bar to open out onto the shipyard.

New vehicle access would come from Methleigh Bottoms, with the remainder of the site laid out to hard area and green area open spaces, vehicle parking and boat storage.

A new vehicle and pedestrian bridge is proposed to cross the stream in the north east corner of the site, with access to further car parking and a net drying area on land beyond.

Falmouth Packet:

It was "called in" to the area's planning committee at Cornwall Council, at the request of division member Councillor Andrew Wallis, in order to consider the impact of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area, in addition to the town council’s concerns.

The town council objected to the application on the grounds of scale and mass, along with the destruction of an historical wall that was shown to be circa 1875 and 1906 on maps - and which members believed could be the remains of historic buildings.

They also had concerns over the proposed access via Methleigh Bottoms and the safety aspects on a narrow area of road, the proposed residential accommodation being adjacent to a flood plain, and its impact on the conservation area.

Planning officers at Cornwall Council had recommended conditional approval though, saying the development would contribute to the local economy and community by providing additional employment and leisure space, along with further housing and a new medical centre.

In a report to the committee, case officer Peter Gregory said that the designs had been revised following comments including from the town council and Historic England, adding: "Some harm to the conservation area and other identified heritage assets would be brought by the development, but with the revisions to the scheme now in place, this is considered to be less than substantial when balanced against the clear benefits to the local community and due to it being suitably integrated with the existing built form."

He said it would not raise any issues with neighbours, highway safety, biodiversity or flood risk provided suitable planning conditions were imposed, and the the traditional use of the site for works to and storage of boats would not be compromised, with areas of the site being controlled by a condition allowing for these activities, as well as easy access to the adjacent harbour, to continue.

The existing industrial tenants on site were being re-located to purpose built premises in Tolponds Road, he said.

However, its future will have to wait a little longer, after committee members decided to defer their decision until clarification could be sought over a part of the site that was said to have multiple ownership.

Original plans from Mr Osborne had also included a south coast base for the National Lobster Hatchery at Padstow, which is looking to open a second venue on the south coast and develop its environmental programme, introducing 20,000 baby lobsters into the sea off Porthleven each year.

However, these have been removed from the current application - with Mr Osborne saying it was due to objections from the town council.

In the officer report it states that Historic England raised concerns about the design of the hatchery, which was to replicate the circular Innovation Building already approved, saying that it introduced a "degree of repetition and symmetry that does not reflect the character of Porthleven as a rule."

But Mr Osborne said: "Alongside economic benefits for the community, the hatchery would be an example of marine conversation in action, offering education and research opportunities and significant benefits to the community.

"It is a pity that the town council has placed the proposal in doubt - it is widely supported and would be welcomed by the vast majority of Porthleven residents.”

Mr Osborne said he was "disappointed" that the decision had been deferred, particularly as the application was submitted six months ago and he believed the issue could have raised before the meeting, so that officers could be prepared.

He added: "Porthleven Harbour & Dock Company have confirmed that the concerned land – a part of the Moors – is indeed owned by the company and remains subject to the rights established by the company to allow fishermen to dry nets on the land.

"The land has been used for car parking without interference with the fishermen’s rights for decades."

When the idea of the medical centre was first raised back in January, Alison Butterill, practice manager for Helston Medical Centre and Porthleven Surgery, told the Packet that at that time an initial discussion had taken place, but the proposal was still in the very early stages.

She said a formal process, involving NHS Kernow Clinical Commissioning Group, NHS England and Improvement and people who use the surgery would still be required to inform any agreement to move to a new site.