One of Cornwall’s best known hotels has announced initial plans for eco-lodges. 

The Carlyon Bay Hotel, on the coast near St Austell, has sought pre-application advice to extend and modernise the hotel, which was built in 1925 and was awarded four stars in 1985, which would include an adding an additional storey of guest accommodation.

Its owners, the Brend Group, feel that the hotel has to evolve and develop to “meet the current and future demand for different types of tourist accommodation, and for it to achieve the aspiration of five-star status”. 

It has submitted a ‘Vision’ document for a masterplan on how the Brend Group needs to develop the hotel over the next few years.

The plans include a number of single-storey eco-lodges which fully maximise sea views while having regard to the sensitivity of the cliff-top location and adjoining homes on Sea Road. 

This is land is currently leased to Carlyon Parish Council until the end of 2026. The Brend Group has confirmed to the council that there will be no opportunity to ‘roll-over’ or to extend this current arrangement in its current form, as the land is integral to its plans to enhance the hotel’s tourism offer. 

Aside from the public rights of way, public access will no longer be permitted/possible following the expiry of the current lease.

The Brend Group may consider offering the council a lease for the residual land around to the south of the new lodges, together with a commitment to deliver landscape and biodiversity enhancements for the benefit of the local community.

The hotel also wants to provide additional accommodation by increasing the height of the main hotel building. 

This would involve adding an additional storey of guest accommodation. 

There are also plans for a new spa facility replacing its current offer with a contemporary designed two-storey building. A new glazed link would link the hotel with the new facility.