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Ambitious plans for a £57-million marina development at Penlee quarry
have a considerable distance to go to overcome planning hurdles, says
Charlotte Hill, head of regeneration, tourism and leisure at Penwith Council.
She made her comments following a recent round-the-table meeting with
representatives of a number of organisations with input into the proposed
Port Penlee development, which was unveiled in The Cornishmanin April.
Representatives of Penwith planners, Cornwall County Council planning
and highways department, the Environment Agency, South West Water and
the Rural Development Agency were involved in discussions with representatives
of the project team.
English Heritage, English Nature and the RSPB who were not represented
at the meeting, all submitted reports and comments on the proposal which
are for a marina in the quarry basin, a luxury hotel with additional holiday
villas, plus residential properties.
Subject to local views, Port Penlee is considering commercial development
- retail, restaurants etc visitor attractions and facilities and public
car-parking.
Shortly after detailed plans of the proposals were published, major Cornish
environmental and conservation organisation, the Cornwall Wildlife Trust,
called for the creation of a nature reserve at the quarry, claiming that
the plan, if it goes ahead, would have a "devastating short-term
and long-term impact on our natural heritage."
A number of issues were highlighted at the meeting, not least of all
highways and housing issues, which will be the thrust of future meetings
between all interested parties.
Planning issues are at the top of the list, and these were described
by Charlotte Hill as "significant."
She said: "The main themes relate to access of the site by road
and proposals for a bridge. These are significant issues, as are the proposals
in relation to housing which, as they stand, contravene current planning
policy.
"The next step is that we are waiting for a proposal that addresses
these considerable and specific planning issues."
April's announcement that the development was "under starter's orders"
followed a four-year land assembly and acquisition process by local man,
Tony Jarman.
Earlier still he instigated the land assembly process and explored potential
project partners.
In 1999 he approached MDL Developments Ltd - the UK's largest marine
operators and they subsequently acquired the 100 acres of largely brownfield
land at the quarry after agreeing to take on the project.
article copyright © THE CORNISHMAN
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