CONTENTIOUS plans to demolish a historic thatched cottage in Newquay and build a residential scheme have been approved despite the building being of local significance.

Cornwall Council has given the go ahead to knockdown Thatch Cottage at Treninnick and construct two pairs of semi-detached houses as the scheme would deliver “clear” economic, social and environmental benefits.

Residents argued the building should be preserved as it represents a “rare, rapidly diminishing” example of traditional early 19th century Cornish cob and thatch cottage, situated on the historic land of the former Treninnick Manor, which dates back to the 15th Century.

The applicant Kernow Developments Ltd stated the building is "unlikely to be salvageable" due to severe structural instability but residents countered the property was purchased at auction in a repairable state and was not deemed an inherently dangerous structure at the time of sale.

Resident Richard Lamboll said: “The thatched cottage holds significant historical value. The application raises concerns regarding the treatment and condition of this heritage asset. “There appears to have been a failure to properly maintain and protect the heritage asset, and I am concerned that this apparent deliberate neglect should not be used to justify its demolition and the subsequent development of the site would result in the total loss of the heritage asset for future generations. “The proposal should demonstrate that the asset has been appropriately conserved and that the development would not cause unacceptable harm to its historic or architectural significance.”

Thea Lamboll added: “The building holds significant local historical and structural lineage, with clear documentation placing its roots in at least the early 1850s, if not earlier.

“National planning guidance makes it clear that deliberate neglect or failure to maintain a site must not be used to justify demolition.”

Historic environment planning stated the proposal would result in the loss of a non-designated heritage asset of local significance and that the information provided in the planning application did not adequately demonstrate that repair, stabilisation, or partial reconstruction options had been fully explored and discounted.

Newquay Town Council objected to the plan stating the proposal represented an overdevelopment of the site, with concerns that the scale and density of the scheme would result in a cramped development.

Cornwall Council’s planning department approved the plans concluding the thatched cottage is “beyond practical repair” and that its significance is “limited” to its local historic interest. the wider economic and social benefits of the proposal are considered to outweigh the identified harm. It concluded the benefits of the proposal are considered to outweigh the identified harm.

A planning officer concluded: “Taking a balanced approach, substantial weight is given to the loss of the non-designated heritage asset.

“However, when considered alongside the limited significance and condition of the building, the delivery of additional housing, the effective use of a sustainable site, biodiversity and sustainability enhancements, and the wider economic and social benefits of the proposal are considered to outweigh the identified harm.

“A programme of historic building recording can be secured by condition to preserve an archive record of the asset.”