Cornwall planning: Turning lifeboat station into rum distillery among latest plans

Plans to turn an old lifeboat station into a rum distillery as well as numerous housing developments 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.

Turning old lifeboat station into rum distillery

A plan has been submitted for change of use permission to change the Grade II listed Old Lifeboat Station on The Quay at Looe into a rum distillery.

Le Page Architects were approached by the custodians, East Looe Town Trust, to house a distillery and bar for Penrock Distillery Ltd. A statement says: "This will allow the trust to have a prestigious long-term tenant within the site rather than the ad-hoc use it has suffered over the last decade or so."

The building is located within the East Looe Conservation Area and an Area of Great Landscape Value. It is also within the Cornwall coastal vulnerability zone.

For more details see application PA24/09542.

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Refurbishment of town's Guildhall

Plans have been submitted to refurbish the Grade II listed Liskeard Guildhall, originally the meeting place of Liskeard Borough Council. Le Page Architects have been commissioned to gain listed building consent for the conservation, repair and refurbishment of the building.

The project has been funded by Good Growth Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Shared Prosperity Fund - Community Capacity Fund.

The town council has set out a detailed brief for the project, seeking to rejuvenate the interior spaces and the former ground floor colonnade in a way that is sensitive to the existing building and secures a sustainable use for its future in the town centre.

The proposed scheme includes essential repair and maintenance of the building along with new electrics and redecoration throughout. In addition, the ground floor commercial space is to be re-ordered with installation of a passenger lift up to the first floor to provide disabled access to the main hall. Installation of new accessible toilets and facilities are also proposed to serve both the commercial and main hall spaces.

For more details see application PA24/09622.

Housing development near Bude

A permission in principle application has been lodged for a housing development of between three and five homes at Contractors Yard, Coppathorne, Poundstock near Bude. "While the specific tenure and design details of the homes will be determined at a later stage, the scheme is focused on providing sustainable, policy compliant housing in alignment with local and national planning priorities," says a supporting statement.

For more details see application PA25/00281.

Affordable flats on former college car park

Cornish Premier Homes Ltd has applied to build eight affordable flats on part of a former overspill car park of Cornwall College at Kevill Road, Pool, near Redruth.

The proposed one-bedroom two-person flats are within two blocks and would be arranged over two floors. None of the flats would be accessed from communal hallways but each flat has been designed with its own private independent access. The buildings have been designed not to have overlooking or shadowing to proposed and existing surrounding buildings.

A planning statement says: "The delivery of eight affordable flats will provide much-needed housing to the area. The buildings will be in accordance with the green infrastructure climate change policy and will make a vast improvement on the existing ecology found on the existing site."

For more details see application PA25/00252.

Affordable housing near Penzance

An application for permission in principle has been submitted for an affordable-led housing development of up to six houses near Chy An Brea, Castle Gate, Ludgvan. The site falls within the Cornwall National Landscape.

For more details see application PA25/00145.

New homes in St Agnes

Classic Builders (SW) Ltd have applied for permission in principle for up to five homes on land opposite Goonbell House, Goonbell, St Agnes. It is envisaged that these would be chalet-style (one and a half storey) bungalows and built to Passivhaus standard to comply with the council's climate emergency policy.

For more details see application PA24/09732.

Housing development near Camborne

A permission in principle has also been received for the proposed development of up to seven homes with a community parking area following demolition of redundant barns at Dixcarte, Crowan, Praze An Beeble. A local developer has recently agreed terms to purchase the site and progress a development which is in keeping with the area, says a supporting statement.

For more details see application PA24/09634.

Bid to make pub and restaurant a wedding venue

The Tartan Fox - the restaurant and pub at Carvynick Farm, Summercourt, run by Scottish chef Adam Handling - has applied to also become a wedding and events venue. The venue was previously known as The Fox's Revenge and was also once run by well-known chef Kevin Viner, who is now based at the Falmouth Arms in Ladock.

For more details see application PA24/09566.