PLANNING permission has been approved for six timber holiday pods on land near a hotel on the Roseland peninsula, in spite of widespread objection from individuals, local authorities and organisations.

The site, to the west of the Driftwood Hotel near Portscatho, lies within the Cornwall National Landscape (formerly the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) and on a Heritage Coast, with a Public Right Of Way running to the north of the site.

The existing Driftwood hotel premises provides 14 guest bedrooms with additional staff accommodation on site, but is currently unoccupied following a change of ownership in 2024. It has been set out that the proposal for the six self-contained pods would diversify and enhance the current offering and would support ongoing viability of the business.

Cornwall National Landscape objected to the proposal on the grounds that “in its current form, the proposed development neither ‘conserves’ nor ‘enhances’ the natural beauty of the designated landscape”.

In a statement to Cornwall Council, it cited the “special qualities” of this part of the National Landscape, including “the overriding sense of the Roseland as an extremely tranquil and well-managed farmed landscape with a globally renowned, stunning coastline”.

It continued: “The proposed pods will result in an incongruous form of development, that shows no relation to existing vernacular or the character of the landscape.

“Furthermore, given the sloping nature of the ground, it is inevitable that intrusive groundworks will be required, as well as other requirements such as footpaths and lighting, all of which result in harm to the unspoilt character of the site.

“It will result in a significant increase in activity within this part of the landscape, from car movements, noise and disturbance … that is uncharacteristic of the area.”

Gerrans Parish Council objected to the proposed development on the grounds that “insufficient demonstration of local need for has been shown” and many aspects were contrary to the requirements of the Cornwall Local Plan (CLP) and the Roseland Neighbourhood Development Plan (RNDP).

“The development would cause harm through intensified use and increased visitor numbers in a sensitive natural environment close to a SSSI and a remnant area of Atlantic rainforest, and would result in a net loss of biodiversity,” it added.

The proposed development would also “increase pressure on the existing single-track road which is already over-stressed in peak holiday season”, and “would build over what is currently an open, green space offering views of the sea from an adjoining public right of way.”

Michelle Perring, Senior Associate at Stephens Scown, expressed concern that “additional lighting associated with six accommodation units has the potential to affect the dark-sky qualities of this part of the National Landscape”.

Portscatho resident Peter Mumford added: “Although the hotel has run successfully commercially for many years, the current owners and application makers, for reasons of their own, have chosen not to make a commercial success of the venture to date. This is not an argument for creating a different business across AONB land.”

Find out about planning applications that affect you by visiting the Public Notice Portal.

Having taken all factors into account, it was declared that “none is of such significance as to outweigh the considerations”, and the proposal was approved on Wednesday [October 28] with conditions including the incorporation of bat boxes and bird boxes and bee bricks at a minimum rate of one measure per pod, prior to occupation.