Government statement on Carbis Bay Hotel works for G7 in Cornwall

The Carbis Bay Hotel has come under protests from people unhappy that work to build the nine meeting rooms was started without planning permission.

Last week the hotel submitted a planning application seeking permission to build the three “pods” which will house the meeting rooms.

The G7 summit of world leaders is set to come to Cornwall in June and the Carbis Bay Hotel is hosting the summit. It said that the new rooms were needed for the G7.

Last week the Government said that it had not been involved in the planning application made by the Carbis Bay Hotel and had not provided funding for any development needed for the G7.

A Cabinet Office spokesperson added: “The Government has been working with all the summit venues, Cornwall Council and local stakeholders extensively on preparations for the summit. We are committed to delivering a sustainable summit that showcases Cornwall’s world-leading conservation and green research and delivers a lasting legacy for the region.”

Cornwall Council enforcement officers had investigated the site following complaints and last week the authority urged the hotel to stop works while the planning application is considered.

Under planning rules the local Cornwall councillor for the area in which an application is made can request that a decision is made by a planning committee made up of councillors and not by officers under delegated powers.

Linda Taylor, councillor for Lelant and Carbis Bay, said that she informed planning officers today that she would call it in should they recommend approval.

Cllr Taylor, who is also leader of the Conservative group at Cornwall Council, said she made her decision after listening to concerns raised by residents.

Councillor Linda Taylor who has been selected as leader of the Conservative group at Cornwall Council

She said: “Some people’s voices are louder than others. I have listened to a whole range of concerns.

“The majority of people are in favour of the G7 coming to Cornwall and to our part of the world and they can see the benefits of that.

“We do have a planning process system and as a Cornwall councillor I have listened to the real concerns from my residents and in view of that I have called it in. I sent my notification to the planning department in the early hours of this morning.”

On her Facebook page she explained: “As the Cornwall council for Carbis Bay I listen to all my residents and not just those with the loudest voice. Since the application went onto the planning portal on March 15 I have spent the following week listening and talking to residents about this. Whilst it is very clear the majority of residents welcome the G7 to Carbis Bay there is real concern about the above application.

“I have this morning advised the planning officer that should planning be minded to approve I will call the application to committee, this means it is not a delegated decision.

“I welcome the G7 and I am confident of the benefits to our Cornish economy, we are open for business. We have much to promote to the world, our culture, our heritage and the economic benefits that Cornwall can provide in renewable energy, digital, top quality food and drink and not forgetting our beautiful scenery.”

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In a statement previously issued by the hotel it said: “The investments in the estate over recent years, including our on-site Energy Centre, have cemented Carbis Bay’s position as one of the UK’s best and greenest destinations, in one of the most beautiful bays in the country.

“We appreciate that our passion and commitment to the environment are shared by many, and would like to address the misunderstanding on social media, and reassure our guests and neighbours about the area that we are working on at the moment.

“Part of our long-standing plans for the estate included clearing a small self-seeded scrubland area to the side of the hotel, and work on this area started several years ago. We can confirm this was not ancient woodland and there are no badger setts on this piece of land.

“We are working closely with a local landscaping team to increase planting in this area replacing the scrubland with a plethora of trees and plants more suited to the coastal environment.

“The South West Coast Path is fully open and there are no plans for this to be re-routed. Our commitment to this important route through the estate includes the upgrading of the existing surface to improve access and safe passage to the beach.“Carbis Bay Estate is committed to sustainability, and dedicated to protecting the environment now, and for generations to come.”

And the design and access statement issued with the planning application states: “The hotel is currently engaged in a major expansion of its water front offering, including a recently completed multi-use venue building, which is part funded by the Coastal Communities Fund, and also recently completed eight no luxury beach front lodges.

“This investment combined with the hotel’s reputation and unrivalled location have atracted international renown to an extent that the hotel has been successful in hosting the upcoming G7 Conference.”