CONTENTIOUS plans to expand a holiday park in Mawgan Porth have been given the go ahead.

Councilors approved a planning application to install 28 more holiday lodges at Sun Haven Holiday Park at Retorrick Mill despite acknowledging the scheme would harm the character of the area of great landscape value.

They concluded the economic and tourism benefits sufficient to outweigh any harm the development could cause.

The decision was taken following debate at the central sub-area planning committee, which was held at County Hall on Monday, February 9.

Concerns were raised about flooding and drainage resilience, particularly in light of recent flooding experienced in Mawgan Porth earlier this year.

Officers confirmed that the scheme met required technical standards, but questions were raised about confidence in those assumptions against recent real-world events.

It was also highlighted the proposal conflicted with elements of the adopted development plan.

Residents objected to the planning application arguing the scheme would add to over-development and ‘exploitation’ of the area.

St Mawgan-in-Pydar Parish Council and Cornwall councillor Rowland O’Connor, opposed the scheme arguing the development will harm an area of great landscape value.

The parish council stated: “The council has consistently resisted further development on this site, encroaching further into the valley with visual impact in the area of great landscape value.

“There are major issues with the use of the lower field and with the recently added lodges with balconies and decking which overlook the lane into Retorrick.

“These have altered that lane from a quiet, sheltered rural lane to a far more open urban environment and impacted on the fishing lakes opposite.

“The proposal would be a 'significant intrusion' into the landscape, would be 'highly visible due to the sloping, elevated nature of the field' despite the applicant's claims to the contrary.

“We know there is considerable light pollution from the existing park and allowing the increase in the density to the land would be detrimental to the area of great landscape value and environment.

The application site is a 1.76-hectare undeveloped field just over one kilometre east of Mawgan Porth and can be seen from the village’s popular beach. It forms part of the landscape within the Lanherne & Watergate area of great landscape value.

There are currently 106 static caravans throughout the adjoining holiday park.

Cllr O’Connor said: “I fully respect the decision of the planning committee and the democratic process that led to it.

“However, I remain concerned that the application was approved despite acknowledged harm to an Area of Great Landscape Value and without a clearly articulated threshold for when such harm becomes acceptable.

“My position throughout was not opposition to tourism or development in principle, but a concern about whether the information before members was sufficient to justify overriding long-standing landscape protection policies.

“Where landscape harm is accepted, even limited uncertainty around infrastructure resilience carries greater weight in the planning balance.

“That was the basis of my contribution, and I felt it was important those concerns were placed clearly on the public record.”