The builder behind the planned redevelopment of the Boslowick Inn site has stressed it is local people behind it.

Last Saturday marked the final day of trading for the pub, which is now at the centre of a bid to develop the site into ten houses, not flats as previously reported in the Packet.

An outline planning application has been submitted to Cornwall Council for ten 'high-quality' houses by OPO Development (Cornwall) Ltd.

Ian Drennan, a builder contractor from Penryn working in conjunction with the developers, said it was important for people to understand that they would be 'luxury' houses, rather than flats for students or result in an influx of a large number of people, as first proposed in a pre-application review back in 2019.

The planning application reduces the previously suggested two blocks of 12 flats to a now proposed ten houses, which would involve demolishing the existing pub building to clear the site.

"It's all local companies that are going to be building it," he said. "I'm a local builder, everyone that comes in will be local contractors."

And he said it didn't stop there, with the pub's play park being donated to the local cub scouts, and there would be biodiversity areas on the site for the public to come and enjoy.

"We're not looking at coming in and getting everything out that we can get out of it. At the end of the day, everyone would like to keep that pub – I would like to myself, and I'm a builder. I'm a Penryn builder, I live in Falmouth and I love the place. But life goes on."

The application states that the operation of the building as a public house is no longer viable after a continuous decline in business over the years, even before the global Covid-19 pandemic.

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According to planning consultants Influence Planning (Cornwall) Ltd: "The application is supported by recent accounts that confirm that the operation of the public house is not sustainable or a viable business, with continuous decline in recent years even before the current global pandemic and the disastrous implications of Covid-19 on the hospitality sector."

Mr Drennan told the Packet that he used to drink there also, but added: "Numerous people have looked at it and it's not a viable entity, unfortunately. I've spent many an hour there myself over the years. That's life unfortunately."

As an outline planning application details of the design, apart from the access, will be part of a further planning application if this one is passed. Details can be viewed on Cornwall Council website under reference PA21/09322.