The Duchy of Cornwall has suspended the licence to work at Whipsiderry Cliffs following a direct appeal by a local residents protest group.

On Sunday, The Save Whipsiderry Cliffs Public Group asked The Duchy Of Cornwall directly to stop "destructive" works at Whipsiderry Beach, Newquay, Cornwall. 

Last night the Duchy agreed to do just that suspending the licence for developers to infill caves beneath their development site with concrete and metal poles.

Posting on his Facebook page this lunchtime local MP Steve Double broke the news saying.

"The Duchy of Cornwall yesterday evening suspended the licence at Whipsiderry.

"The Duchy have now sent me their statement on this, which I have included below.

"I remain in contact with Cornwall Council and the MMO and have requested further updates on the next steps they are taking here."

A Duchy of Cornwall spokesperson said: “The Duchy granted a licence at Whipsiderry beach to allow a third party developer to access land within their ownership.

“This was for the purpose of carrying out specific works forming part of a planning consent issued by Cornwall Council.

“The Duchy granted access on the basis that these works be carried out in a safe manner and that all necessary consents were in place, including observing bird nesting restrictions.

"The Duchy has therefore suspended the licence in order for discussions between the developer and the relevant statutory authorities to take place and for those authorities to determine if and how the consented work can take place in a safe and compliant manner.

“The Duchy understands the concerns of local residents and supports their democratic right to peacefully protest. We will await the outcome of the discussions.”

Posting on the Save Whipisiderry Cliffs Facebook page the group said: "We are delighted to hear that the Duchy Of Cornwall has SUSPENDED the agreement between themselves and the Developer (Living Quarter Properties), which gave access to the foreshore to allow the work to take place.

"Whilst this is a TEMPORARY HALT on proceedings, we are happy that the Duchy has listened to the overwhelming public objection to this destructive work."

They added: "We are unsure at this point when work will start again, but we will keep you informed."

The developer has been excavating sea caves, with heavy machinery, drilling into rock, inserting steel rods and filling the caves with concrete, including part of the cliff face above.

This is to enable them to build seven holiday-homes, on top of the 200 foot cliff.

But the protestors, who have been protesting in their hundreds on the beach, say the cliffs are home to rare birds and mammals, but despite this biodiversity and natural habitat, the Cornwall Council Planning Department & The Marine Management Organisation have granted permission for the work to take place.

The developers, Living Quarter Properties, say the work is necessary to ensure that the holiday homes are safe and to stop the cliff collapsing into the sea.