Renovation of White Wings, Harbour Terrace, Falmouth opposed

The house, White Wings in Harbour Terrace, has been brought by a Mrs and Mrs Needham who currently live out of the county.

Their proposal is to use the existing building and site and 'modernise, extend and improve' the home.

White Wings is right at the end of the terrace and is desceribed as being in a very prominent place.

3D design of the proposed renovations

The house is around 30 to 40 years old and was bought for around £795,000.

A statement from their agent said: "Due to a client's requirements to achieve a proposal that future proofs its sustainable credentials, the design has taken the opportunity to revitalise the overall appearance of the building.

"Over insulating to walls and roof along with high performance glazing have allowed a material change forming a building with a New England style aesthetic."

3D design of the proposed renovations

The garage will be demolished and incorporated into the house with the building slightly higher.

However the proposals have been met with horror by many neighbours who say that while the original house has no architectural merit and should never have been built in the first place, the new proposals make matters worse.

Anna Gillett compared the situation to the film Bait

Anna Gillett, who live opposite the site, has even gone as far as likening the development to the plot of the award winning Cornish film Bait. The film, starring “Kernow King” Edward Rowe deals with the tensions that arise between locals and tourists in a Cornish fishing village against a backdrop of second homes, short-term lets, and gentrification.

Anna Gillett compared the situation to the film Bait

Ms Gillett, Falmouth Town Councillor for Penwerris Ward, told the Packet as a victim of the current housing crisis in Falmouth herself, as a tenant, she found the whole situation 'very irritating'.

She said the new design was unneighbourly and overdevelopment as well as blocking views to Flushing.

"These views aren't just enjoyed by people who are resident on Harbour Terrace, and the surrounding roads and terraces but locals and visitors who take regular walks to enjoy the visual amenity offered by this place," she said.

"Indeed, during high season it is not unusual for crowds to gather on the Terrace as it is offers superb opportunities to observe activities and entertainment across the river and the harbour."

She said it was regrettable that White Wings was built in the 1970s at all, as it already obscures what would have been clear views across the river, and said it was true that the current building is in need of improvement.

"I can understand why someone would want to perch a large dwelling on the edge of a river to enjoy the view," she said. 

The application has so far received 11 letters of objection, mainly from neighbours, and one letter of support on the Cornwall Council planning portal.

One objector points out that a similar application for White Wings in the 1990s was rejected on the grounds of being unsuitable for the "community views and character" and that other applications to raise the roof heights of the properties on the same side of White Wings along Harbour and Erisey Terraces have also been rejected in the past.