Cornwall planning: Indoor climbing gym for town centre among latest proposals

Plans to breathe new life into a town centre building with the creation of a unique bouldering gym, 19 new beach huts and 30 new homes near a coastal town are among the latest planning applications submitted to Cornwall Council.

Every week more than 100 applications are validated by Cornwall Council and we have selected some of the more interesting proposals. All planning applications submitted to the council have to be validated and are available for inspection by the public. Anyone is also allowed to submit comments about the applications - whether in support or objection.

The majority of applications are decided by planning officers at the council under delegated powers. However, some applications will go before elected councillors who sit on planning committees. No dates have been set for when the planning applications below will be determined. They can be viewed by going to the planning portal on Cornwall Council’s website.

Indoor bouldering gym for town centre

Penzance could be the first town centre in Cornwall to get an indoor climbing 'bouldering' gym if a planning application submitted this month is approved. Penzance Regeneration Company Ltd - a not-for-profit company established by Penzance Town Deal Board (PZRC) - wants to convert the former Poundstretcher store in Market Jew Street into a state-of-the-art bouldering gym.

LOCi:architecture has been engaged to develop the proposals on behalf of PZRC with the aim of construction starting in the middle of this year. The gym would be a fitness, strength and conditioning facility with bouldering at its core, designed to suit a range of ages and fitness levels, from “fun” through to those committed to building and maintaining high levels of health and fitness.

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The plans state the development would bring new activity into the town centre and make a real contribution to the transformation of the town in line with national trends which show towns adapting to retail change and becoming more social and experiential.

The proposed development comprises:

• 1,141m2 bouldering walls over two floors of the building. Ground floor devoted to learners, children and families. First floor for experienced adult climbers
• 400m2 strength and conditioning, fitness, training and wellness facilities.

There are now over 400 climbing and bouldering centres in the UK, a number which has risen rapidly within the last decade. Of those around 100 are bouldering centres, generally located near large population centres or in areas associated with outdoor climbing.

There are around 730,000 regular climbers in the UK of whom nearly 90 per cent are under 35 and 71 per cent of those climb indoors only. The nearest bouldering centres are in Plymouth and Exeter although the Tide Wadebridge offers a small climbing wall.

The application states: "Whilst Penzance/West Penwith are limited in terms of the size of the permanent local population (60,000 for West Penwith) that increases to over 250,000 given that people will drive for up to 60 minutes to boulder. Also important is the seasonal influx of tourists and the local association with outdoor climbing from the infamous Commando Ridge at Bosigrain cliffs to climbing and coasteering activities in Penzance, Hayle and The Lizard.

"The location of a bouldering gym directly within a high street is unusual (albeit not unique) as often they are located on the outskirts of population centres where larger warehouse style buildings are located. Locating this bouldering gym in the middle of Market Jew Street will no doubt provide an increase in footfall to the surrounding town centre shops and facilities, thus supporting the wider local economy, as well as offering a state of the art health and fitness facility within easy access for both local residents and visitors to Penzance."

For further details see planning application see PA24/09775.

Up to 30 new homes near Bude

Tamar Land & Property Company Ltd has applied for outline planning permission for a residential development comprising up to 30 homes, including affordable housing, and open space on land between Bude and the neighbouring village of Poughill.

The development, on 3.17 hectares of land, would look to accommodate a mix of two, three and four bedroom homes. However, details of appearance, landscaping, layout and scale details would be revealed in a later reserved matters application.

For further details see planning application PA25/00379.

Beach huts plan opposite St Michael's Mount

Simon Ayres, of Mounts Bay Beach Huts Ltd, has applied to Cornwall Council to convert a former toilet block at Long Rock beach near Penzance into a café alongside 18 new beach huts, plus another on the roof of the block.

A planning statement says: "The public toilets were closed by Cornwall Council some 12 years ago, having deemed them to be unnecessary. Since then, the building has been unused, unloved and became a graffiti covered eyesore, a noticeable blot on the otherwise beautiful landscape.

"This planning proposal aims to restore and improve the existing small building creating a useful business space for a café together with a new public convenience with disabled access being added to the eastern flank of the building."

Additionally, Mr Ayres wishes to apply for temporary ten-year planning permission to erect 18 beach huts on the strip of land with full permanent permission for one slightly larger hut on the roof of the existing building. Each of the 18 huts would measure 3m x 3m x 2.56m.

It has also been proposed that the 19th hut on the roof could be a more permanent structure and might on occasions be used for overnight camping.

He said: "Overall, we believe that the proposal would bring economic and social benefits to the area, would enhance the appearance of the area, and with the new public convenience would improve and enhance the usage of both Long Rock beach and the coastal path."

For more details see application PA24/09546

Up to nine new homes in St Austell

Cornwall Executive Homes Ltd has applied for permission in principle to build up to nine new houses on land near Treverbyn Road, Carclaze, St Austell.

For further details see planning application PA25/00419.