A HYDROTHERAPY centre in Newquay that a charity spent more than 20 years fundraising to open is due to be demolished.

Andrew Henwood Funeral Directors in Quarry Park Road has received planning approval to knock down the facility, renovate its commercial unit and construct manager's accommodation.

Dedicated HYDY charity committee members led by the late Barbara Kennedy spent two decades raising the £190,000 needed to open the hydrotherapy pool, which was finally unveiled in 2017.

Patients previously were having to travel to Truro and St Austell to receive their physical water therapy but the hydrotherapy pool became redundant in 2024 after NQY Sports Centre stopped operating the facility due to running costs.

The pool was put on the open market for interested parties to lease the facility but there was no interest.

Trustees of the HYDY group decided to disband the charity as the hydrotherapy pool had become unviable.

Dart Architects in the planning statement said: “The application seeks full planning permission for the renovation and reconfiguration of an existing funeral directors together with the demolition of a redundant hydrotherapy business and construction of a replacement two-storey extension.

“At ground floor level, the proposal provides improved funeral service facilities including a new chapel located to the rear, upgraded operational areas, and reorganised waiting room and family spaces.

“The internal layout has been carefully planned to ensure discreet separation between public areas and operational functions, improving dignity, privacy and circulation.

“The presence of on-site management enables prompt operational response, improves security for sensitive facilities and equipment, and ensures that the building can be appropriately monitored outside standard business hours.

“The accommodation is not proposed as a separate market dwelling and does not form an independent planning unit.

“Its role is intrinsically linked to the primary employment use of the site.”