REVISED plans to demolish a former Newquay hotel and build an aparthotel have been approved.

A developer has received planning permission to knockdown the derelict four-storey Sutherland Hotel and construct the development, which will consist of 32 holiday apartments.

The development will consist of two complimentary blocks of apartments linked by an internal landscaped court at ground floor level.

Previous plans to build a scheme with 35 holiday apartments were opposed due to concerns about the impact the building would have on the nearby the Grade II* listed Church of St Michael and the surrounding area. It was recommended that the building height was lowered to address the heritage concerns.

The developer went back to the drawing board, and the building mass was reduced in the revised planning application due to the removal of the fifth and sixth storeys.

LHC Design, on behalf of developer Blakesley Estates, said: “Home to the former Sutherland Hotel, this now derelict four-storey building predominantly occupies the northern half of the site with car parking and a number of small out buildings to the rear of the property. The four-storey building comprises of 28 bedrooms with associated amenities and facilities that previously targeted the stag weekend market. At the front of the hotel was a free house operated as Top of the Town with its external seating area adjacent to Mount Wise.

“The scheme does look to challenge the scale and ridge height of the immediate existing context, whilst still being respectful to local landmarks such as Newquay parish church and the character of the wider town.

“It is designed to introduce a significant focal point at the end of Marcus Hill vista and as such will break the skyline on Mount Wise Road, the proposal being of a larger scale than nearby visible buildings.

“Views of Newquay Parish Church of St Michael will however remain, and the introduction of the proposals will not significantly impact the experience or the nature of the view of the church itself. The scale of the new building will mean that it is a dominant feature in the wider landscape, however it will be read as an integral part of the townscape, and it does not significantly alter the nature of this broader contextual view.

“The northern block delivers 22 apartments over ground plus four storeys over a basement plinth level. “The removal of the upper fifth and sixth floors reduces the building’s scale, allowing the proposal to sit more comfortably within the surrounding context whilst giving relief to the adjacent Ocean Views apartments

“The southern block delivers nine apartments over four storeys (lower ground, ground and two upper storeys. This block has presented less of a challenge around overlooking and scale given the reduced level of development onto the rear lane outlook.”

“A study has been undertaken to review the potential overlooking issues concerning the proposed rear facing apartments and the neighbouring school/childcare building to the rear of the site.”