Holiday Park Proposal for Former Military Site Denied

A contentious proposal for a holiday park at a disused military camp on the north Cornwall coast has been rejected. The decision was made due to concerns regarding the project’s scale and the potential for increased traffic. The developers had aimed to construct 67 accommodation units, a swimming pool, and a spa at the former Penhale barracks site, situated in Holywell Bay near Newquay. The application drew 115 objections from members of the public and no expressions of support. Cornwall Council’s Strategic Planning Committee subsequently voted eight to one to turn down the plans. Opponents argued that the development would negatively impact the natural environment and contribute to greater congestion, a point disputed by the applicant. The former Ministry of Defence property has been vacant since its closure in 2010. Clerkenwell Estates had planned to demolish most of the existing structures on the site to make way for holiday lodges, while refurbishing the remaining buildings. The company contended that the camp would bolster the local economy, creating dozens of jobs and attracting over 20,000 visitors annually. The developers also expressed confidence in their ability to mitigate the environmental effects of the camp during both its construction and operational phases. Perranzabuloe and Cubert Parish Councils voiced fears that the holiday camp would lead to a “dramatic increase” in traffic on the narrow local roads, which already experience congestion during the summer. Robert Miners, from Perranzabuloe Parish Council, stated his satisfaction that councillors had blocked the initiative. He argued: “There is no need for more holiday accommodation in such close proximity to many other sites in the area. It certainly would only be a detriment.” “We often have queues of 30-plus cars going in to that area as it is every summer, and this would have made it substantially worse,” he added. Opposition was also raised by the community group Friends of Penhale, who were concerned about the camp disturbing the surrounding site of special scientific interest. The group advocated for the area to be cleared and restored to its natural state to protect the local wildlife and nature. Although the application had been recommended for approval, councillors ultimately concluded that the proposed development was too extensive given the volume of vehicles that would access it via local roads.