CAMPAIGNERS are confident there will be a “positive outcome” after an appeal hearing was held to help determine whether a controversial clifftop luxury housing development at Whipsiderry can be built.

Save Whipsiderry Cliffs believe Living Quarter Properties (Porth) Limited appeal against Cornwall Council’s refusal to discharge condition two of its planning permission to build seven luxury villas on the site of the former Paradise Cove Hotel will be dismissed.

The group claims the developer’s plans to stabilise the cliffs with a rock anchor and netting solution did not stand up to questioning from coastal erosion experts.

Around 100 people attended the planning inspectorate hearing staged at the Griffin Inn on Tuesday, November 11.

Inspector Nick Davies heard from representatives from the developer and Cornwall Council and others to decide whether the submitted scheme of cliff defence works would protect the development from cliff erosion during its 125 year lifespan.

Cornwall Council originally rejected the planning application concluding the developer had not managed to provide evidence that the development would be protected stating “the methodology of cliff stabilisation is not informed by a sufficient understanding of the geology, geotechnical conditions and processes.”

Living Quarter Properties (Porth) Limited appealed the decision arguing the reports had not been correctly interpreted.

Teign Consulting Surveying, which represented Living Quarter Properties (Porth) Limited at the planning appeal, claims the construction of the holiday homes will help stabilise the cliff.

But campaign group Save Whipsiderry Cliffs states there has been a 500 per cent increase in rock falls since the developer started carrying out cliff stabilisation works, which is part of the planning permission before the properties can be constructed.

There have been three major cliff collapses following the cliff stabilisation work, which involved drilling into the rock and inserting steel rods and filling the caves with concrete.

The appeal hearing covered the areas of agreement between the two parties, which included the suggestion there will be further erosion events in the absence of any stabilisation measures. It also covered the proposed works, points of disagreement, iterative approach and future management.

The overall balance of the scheme was also be discussed. The Inspector also conducted a site visit to see the area for himself. The appeal hearing decision is due to be published around Tuesday, December 2.

A spokesperson for Save Whipsiderry Cliffs said: “We feel quite positive about the appeal hearing. We think the Inspector listened to all sides and there was a balanced discussion.

“It was really reassuring listening to experts from the council as well as experts from Save Whipsiderry group because the developer was unable to provide decent and significant evidence to their understanding of the cliff and the geology of the cliff.

“Furthermore, when scrutinised about their plans they did not stand up to questioning.

“I think it was clear from most of the people in the room that there were so many unknowns about the geology of the cliff and what will come if they start drilling into it as per their plans we think it would be insane for anyone to green light this. “There were a lot of unanswered questions and the public that were in the room could see that the developer did not have an adequate understanding of the solution to the mess that they have caused. We are feeling positive.”

Cllr Joanna Kenny, the chairman of Newquay Town Council’s planning committee, said: “After the huge cliff falls in 2023, following the first attempt at stabilisation work, Cornwall Council refused a second application to stabilise the cliffs with a rock anchor and netting solution.

“The hearing was quite different to any other hearing, I’ve been to. Almost five hours of debate between two teams of engineers, three including an expert from the Save Whipsiderry Cliffs’ Group of detailed technical argument.

“Heaven knows what the non-engineer Inspector made of it. The room was packed out and he did well in ensuring the proceedings were orderly while allowing some shrewd comments from the observers. In the end only two of us made a more formal representation.

“Me pointing out that our cliff protection policies in the Newquay Neighbourhood Plan would never permit any development that interfered with the cliffs.

“Also, Geoff Brown using his coast guard rescue experience to point out just how fragile the cliffs are at Whipsiderry.

“Will any of it make a difference. It’s down to the Inspector. I think the council cliff expert team did an impressive job and at the end both teams headed off in the drizzle to inspect the cliffs. We await the report.”

Teign Consulting Surveying has been contacted for comment.