Cornwall planning: Beach huts bid includes one on ROOF of auctioned 'loo with a view'

The applicant behind a plan to install 18 beach huts looking directly towards St Michael's Mount in west Cornwall says he understands neighbours' anxieties but feels everything has been done to minimise their impact. 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.

The toilet block hit the headlines last year when it went up for auction. It ended up selling for eight times it's guide price. See the full story and photos and video here.

The temporary buildings would be used for "traditional beach usage" during daytime hours only, defined in legal contracts as between 7am and 10pm each day. There would also be the possibility that some huts might be used for small business purposes which various interested parties have proposed, such as an artist’s studio, yoga/massage studio and pottery studio.

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The loos in question sold at auction last year - as reported here below

It has also been proposed that the hut on the roof could be a more permanent structure and might on occasions be used for overnight camping. The application proposes to retain an existing bank and site the huts on timber bases attached securely to ground screws at the top level of the bank, maintaining the sea defence and also giving an "important measure of protection" to the huts from tidal flooding

As part of his application, Mr Ayres says: "I have discussed the proposals with many hundreds of people walking past on the path whilst commencing renovations to the existing building this year. We are displaying a large CGI in a front window so that everyone can see the proposals.

"Most people are interested in what’s going on and the overwhelming majority are very positive about the proposals. The only handful of negative responses coming from the neighbours whose views will be impacted."

He added: "I have discussed the proposals with several of the residents whose properties are immediately behind the site in Castle View. Whilst I understand their anxieties around the prospect of changes to their views, we feel that we have done what is possible to minimise the impact whilst maintaining a viable proposal that will sustain the fairly large investment in the site.

"It should also be remembered that when these large modern properties in Castle View were built some 20-plus years ago, they completely obliterated the views from the Gladstone Terrace properties behind."

Mr Ayres said: "We have listened to worries about noise from the beach huts and acknowledge that it is in everyone’s best interest that this does not become an antisocial problem. It is therefore proposed to incorporate strong conditions in the hut leases around loud music and other noise which can be measured at a set distance from each hut. The daytime-only restriction on hut usage will also ensure peace and quiet overnight.

"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."

Since the plan was submitted to the council on Wednesday (January 22), there has been one comment added to the planning portal by a member of the public. Roy Cleghorn wrote: "I object on the grounds that the proposed development severely restricts the coastal footpath for walkers and other users in this location. The view to St Michael's Mounts should not be degraded by this development.

"Although there is no right to a view, the buildings immediately behind the proposed development will be severely adversely impacted."

For a county with 300 beaches, beach huts are a relatively rare site. There are a number at Bude, St Ives, Par, Newquay and Hayle.

For more details, see application PA24/09546 on Cornwall Council's website.