PLANS to demolish a former hotel near Mawgan Porth and build a housing development have been approved in principle.

Cornwall Council has granted a certificate of appropriate development, permission in principle and land use to a proposal to knock down Atlantic Heights and construct eight dwellings.

The delegated officer report concluded the provision of new dwellings within a housing crisis are considered to outweigh the loss of the existing business use.

St Mawgan-In-Pydar Parish Council objected to the plans as the authority felt there was insufficient information to give a more positive response.

The parish council stated the proposal for eight dwellings, some of which are proposed to be three storeys, could represent overdevelopment of the site, which is on the very edge of the settlement, bordering open fields.

The authority added that it appreciates the new housing target for Cornwall but whilst the parish has “a clear” need for affordable housing particularly with one or two bedrooms, there is “no need” for further open market housing.

The parish council concluded if there were a clear proposal for genuine affordable housing then the authority would be prepared to support development of the site.

The owners Mr J Byrne and Mrs J Latham-Byrne plan to redevelop the site as the 20 bedroomed detached property built in the 1930s has been underused for a number of years and efforts marketed the property in the summer, autumn and winter of 2025 but no offers were made to purchase the premises.

The planning in principle consent route has two stages.

The first stage establishes whether a site is suitable in principle and the second technical details consent stage is when the detailed development proposals are assessed.

The delegated officers report stated: “In summary, and notwithstanding the key constraints and design considerations identified which will need to be addressed at technical details stage the benefits of the proposed development, which include the provision of new dwellings within a housing crisis in this sustainable location, to which significant weight is given, together with associated economic and social benefits resulting from the construction of the dwellings and ongoing use of local facilities are considered to outweigh the loss of the existing business use.

“As such the site is considered to be a suitable location for residential use when the development plan is read as a whole.

“As such the proposal for the demolition of the existing hotel and subsequent construction of a minimum of eight dwellings to a maximum of eight dwellings in this location is considered acceptable.

“However, the site must receive a grant of technical details consent before the development can proceed.

“The granting of technical details consent has the effect of granting planning permission for the development.

“Technical details consent can be obtained following submission of a valid application to the local planning authority.

“An application for technical details consent must be in accordance with the approved details specified within the said permission in principle.”