Options explored for beach village
DEVELOPERS behind a £250 million resort in Cornwall are to explore alternative options after years of planning controversy.
Plans for the massive tourism complex at Carlyon Bay, near St Austell, have bounced between planning approvals, public inquiry refusals, enforcement notices and legal action.
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The proposed development site
But Ampersand, the company behind the landmark scheme, has announced it is looking at new options which could address the stumbling blocks to its completion.
The Commercial Estates Group (CEG), which has worked closely with Ampersand on the project, has secured a "planning performance agreement" with Cornwall Council which establishes a common ground on the principles of the development.
Jon Kenny, development director of CEG, said: "We have now identified a new approach to the development that goes much further in meeting the requirements of all the stakeholders concerned.
"We appreciate Cornwall Council's willingness to go back to the drawing board and have agreed that we should all aim to create a dynamic development for Carlyon Bay that will involve high-quality design and building technology to create a first class holiday complex.
"The revised scheme will reflect the fact we have taken many of the original concerns on board and will be an all-round improvement with the positive aspects of the earlier schemes being reinforced and the negative impacts being reduced.
"This does not mean that the council has made up its mind about whether to support a new planning application."
According to the company, the fresh approach will embrace a more sustainable design, a larger beach area plus a realigned sea defence system.
It could also increase the density of development towards Crinnis beach and away from the more contentious Shorthorn beach site while committing not to increase unit numbers or the leisure and retail floor space beyond the previously approved amounts.
Ampersand has planning permission for about 500 apartments, on the site of the old Cornwall Coliseum building, and a sea wall dating from 1990.
The scale and impact of the development has long been opposed, resulting in the formation of campaign group Carlyon Bay Watch. It was less than impressed with the latest announced and raised serious questions about the negotiations which had gone on behind closed doors.
"The fact that this latest accord with the developer was 'signed off' while there were no councillors to consult, the district council having been dissolved and the new council elections not having taken place, raises serious concerns about the conduct of the planning process in Cornwall Council," it said.
"In view of this, the Government must issue a direction that Cornwall Council may not determine any planning application that results from this accord."
A public exhibition outlining possibilities for the way forward is to be held next month to give the public the opportunity to talk to the project team. A revised planning application will be submitted next year.
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by Darryl, Leicester
Saturday, January 09 2010, 6:27PM
“We frequently visited this beach when it was open. the collseum needed a bit of TLS, but it worked. then they closed the beach to cars that was in 03 now 7 years on nothing has changed.
what a complete waste of a great beach. I think that matters like these sould always have local public approval not done behind closed door where fat cat business men and counsel members get richer. you know what i mean. corruption.
I am so glad that the railway bridge has been listed that will slow down the encroachment of the massive lorrie that used to attempt to squeeze under it.
rant over, it's just a shame the beach politics isnt !”
by Clive, Blackpool
Thursday, October 08 2009, 11:51PM
“The council should take over the site and clean it up
The beach has lost huge amounts of sand in the last 40 yrs.
The car park turned into a lake at high tides in heavy rain.
This redevelopment makes a mockery of planning.”
by Paul, St Austell
Saturday, September 26 2009, 11:49PM
“Interesting that the only local to comment is in favour! I too am local and also in favour of the development, along with the vast majority of locals. I also grew up going down to this beach every summer. Those of you that look at the old coliseum through rose tinted glasses are seriously deluded, The old site was falling down in the 80's and 90's way before Ampersand moved in. This scheme has to go ahead in any format so that the people of St Austell have the beach returned to them and facilities to use, not to mention much needed jobs!”
by Rachel, St Austell
Wednesday, September 23 2009, 9:38AM
“I was born in St Austell and grew up enjoying all the benefits of Cornwall Coliseum at its height and popularity. However, since it closed the Crinnis Beach has been left to become more and more derelict over the years, where I have seen some quite ¿seedy¿ characters and goings on whilst walking on the beach with no management in place. St Austell needs jobs, desperately, St Austell needs a beautiful beach with café¿, restaurants, and a safe place for people to park and children to play. As long as Ampersand¿s plans are responsible to environment provide great facilities that the people of St Austell can use then this is a good thing and will lead to a vibrate lively beach that will only benefit the economy of St Austell.”
by sid vicious, Penwrinkle
Tuesday, September 22 2009, 11:05PM
“Twinned with the Gaza Strip I believe........................good tank defences though !!”
by CarbonBoot, The Duchy Of Cornwall
Tuesday, September 22 2009, 2:18PM
“Ampersand - Just clean all that detritus of the beach including your
silly sea 'defences' - put sand, dunes and marram grass in place to turn Crinnis and the other beaches into a year round amenity for ALL the people of St Austell, The Duchy Of Cornwall and from beyond.
Income from the cliff top car park will then more than recoup your modest initial acquisition cost over the next 25 years.
Forget about ANY building on the beach for that is surely doomed.”
by Peter T., Middlesex
Tuesday, September 22 2009, 1:28PM
“Point taken Stuart, Bude. You are correct, why should the Spanish accept these kinds of developments? I used Spain as an example (wrongly perhaps) as what has happened there has already happened. Carlyon Bay needs tidying up and tastefully and not just to make a fat cat or cats fatter, so it can be enjoyed once again.”
by Stuart, Bude
Tuesday, September 22 2009, 1:00PM
“Peter T - I was going to accuse you of being a "NIMBY" but then Carlyon Bay is hardly in Middlesex's backyard.
Why should the Spanish have to put up with development but not us?
What has happened at Carlyon Bay was wrong but there are many examples off good development in Cornwall.”
by Suzy Monty, Truro
Tuesday, September 22 2009, 12:54PM
“I can remember the fabulous days when we would go to a top notch concert at The Colliseum, Carlyon Bay. The real stars performed there. The parking was easy - unlike in Truro for The Hall For Cornwall venue.
We use to love walking our dogs along Crinnis Beach and then have a cuppa and bite to eat in the cafe there.
Then the disco scene was great as well.
The developers have RUINED this once beautiful beach.
Remember when Freddy Starr opened the nudist beach on the far-side of Crinnis Beach? It even made the local TV news.
Then there was a minature railway to carry people to it.
The MESS that is there now, looks like a war-zone!!
The bay that was once so beautiful is UGLY. Shame on those responsible!!
There”
by Peter T., Middlesex
Tuesday, September 22 2009, 12:32PM
“Agree totally with Steve, PZ and Heather, Truro. Return Carlyon Bay to the super beach facility that it was. If people want appartments and hotels etc, then they can go to Spain.”