PLANNING HISTORY OF THE CARLYON BAY BEACHES

Since this postcard was published of Crinnis in the 1950s, there have been a string of planning applications concerning the beaches at Carlyon Bay.  The following information has been gathered by Carlyon Bay Watch from the records of Restormel Borough Council, Cornwall County Council and local residents' associations.  It is neither exclusive nor exhaustive:

1953 

The Ministry of Housing and Local Government dismissed an appeal against a refusal to allow the creation of a small (20 vans) caravan site.

1961 to 1987

The significant events during this period are listed below but there were also a multitude of smaller matters not included in this list:

• 1963 - 200 beach chalets.  No details and no decision made, presumably withdrawn.
• 1968 - erection of motel and flatlets (revoked 1976).
• 1967 - erection of dwelling, no detail, 1969 no detail, 1970 no detail, 1973 appeal dismissed by Planning Inspector.
• 1973 - erection of holiday villas.  Appeal dismissed.
• 1976 - 104 self-catering units and facilities.  No further detail but expired 1981.
• 1981 - erection of 101 self-catering units and facilities.  No detail, but expired. 
• 1987 - erection of holiday village - a multitude of objections from national and local institutions and numerous local people.  Concern expressed at the performance of the council officer.  This application nonetheless received conditional approval but has since expired.

1989

A further application was made in respect of the erection of 511 holiday dwellings, refurbishment and extensions to central facilities and was approved in 1990.

1996

This consent was controversially renewed in 1996 despite further objections and particular reference to the effects on the beach development of rising tide levels occasioned by global warming, by then receiving scientific backing.

2001

Again renewed, despite the same tide of objections.  No detail as Restormel Borough Council could not produce the file at an appointment made specifically to inspect the same.  However the Environment Agency had written to Restormel in respect of this renewal expressing their objections - "It could not be considered to be sustainable development in the light of long term sea level rise".  (EA letter dated 31/10/2000).

Subsequently it was established that a few white lines (now obliterated) were said to have been painted on the car park and some 'pegging out' was invoiced to Ampersand on the last day before the consent expired.

Restormel Borough Council issued a Certificate of Lawful Commencement, despite the fact that the developer had not complied with conditions required before the development could start.  Ampersand claimed that it could no longer comply. 

The effect of those few white lines upon Restormel officers, in allowing this development to gain approval contrary to the objection of Cornwall County Coouncil and to the local plan, and then that approval be renewed and certified to have been "lawfully commenced" was deemed by many to be wholly incredible conduct.

2002

An application was submitted in substitution of the 'extant scheme' (i.e. the scheme with existing planning permission) with a revised scheme to include a hotel and shops, coupled with an application to lift some of the earlier conditions.  This resulted in numerous objections and a call by the community for the application to be 'called in' by the Secretary of State.  As a result of the work of Carlyon Bay Watch, these applications were eventually 'called in' by the minister in 2004 and, almost immediately, they were withdrawn by the developer, thus avoiding a public inquiry into the whole matter of the huge developments on the beach.  A clear public statement was made by the chairman of Restormel's Development Control Committee that "if the extant consent were to be proposed today, it would not be approved."      

2004

In February 2004 access to the beach was blocked.  The sea wall shuttering and rock armour was constructed during that year along a very different line, much closer into the tidal zone than the 1990 scheme without any consent whatsoever.  The developer claimed persistently that it was merely a temporary defence for its workers.

After considerable pressure from Carlyon Bay Watch, Restormel Council considered enforcement action but the developer was given several months' grace and then, barely in time, submitted a planning application for a revised sea wall.  After further intense pressure by Carlyon Bay Watch, this latest application was made subject to an Article 14 Direction, which meant the Council lost the power to grant consent but could consider it 'in principle' and then submit it to the Secretary of State.  

2005

In June 2005, Restormel considered this Application No. 05/00028.  Immediately before the debate in the Council Chamber about the new sea wall, the Borough announced that they had at last received the engineering calculations for the 'old sea wall' as required by the 1990 consent and then announced that they were to be approved without debate. 

It is important to record here that the 1990 consent had contained a condition (among others) that no works could be commenced on site until these calculations had been received and approved by the Borough.

This move enabled the officers to include that decision in their intense pressure upon the Committee for a 'minded to approve' decision on the new sea wall application, claiming the Committee had no choice because they had, by then, already approved a less effective sea wall.  Many local residents, particularly those who have observed the planning processes about the Carlyon Bay beaches over the last 20 years, have expressed their concerns that successive planning officers of the council have been so supportive of the various development applications in the face of so much national and local objection. 

2006

As a result of the Article 14 Direction, in November 2006 a four-week-long Public Inquiry was held at the Rugby Club premises at Tregorrick near St Austell, where Restormel Borough Council stood shoulder to shoulder with the developer against the objectors - Cornwall County Council, the Environment Agency and the Carlyon Bay Watch team.  (More details on the reasons for the refusal)

2007

The Inspector made his recommendation for refusal in February 2007 and the Secretary of State upheld the Inspector's recommendation, formally refusing the application a few months later.  At almost the last moment for lodging an appeal, Ampersand filed with the High Court.

2008

A hearing of that appeal is listed for 1 December 2008 at the High Court in London.  Carlyon Bay Watch continues to watch and wait.