A peaceful protest is planned next Tuesday (January 23) ahead of an appeal hearing into the refusal of plans for a luxury development at Middlepoint on Pendennis Headland in Falmouth.

Members of the Spiral Collective Housing Co-operative at The Cottage, which adjoins the proposed development site, and shares the same access lane, are encouraging people to gather outside the Maritime Museum in Events Square from 8.30am on Tuesday for the peaceful demonstration.

The planning inquiry is due to get underway at the museum at 10am and will be chaired by an inspector from the Planning Inspectorate. It is expected to last up to three days.

The de Savary family owned Middlepoint Developments Ltd, want to demolish the existing oil tanks at Middlepoint and carry out remediation work before building seven residential blocks containing 35 luxury flats and a building containing a swimming pool, tennis court and other facilities.

Cornwall councillors went against the advice of the planning case officer when they refused the plans in November 2016. They claimed the public benefit of the remediation of a contaminated brownfield for housing and the economic benefit arising from the development would not outweigh the substantial harm.

They also said future occupiers of the proposed apartments are likely to suffer a loss of amenity because of noise and odour arising from the nearby sewage treatment works and docks. If permission was granted it could lead to complaints from residents leading to actions that could limit the future operation and expansion of the sewage works and docks.

While Falmouth Town Council supported the application stating it was "a good option for a brownfield site on contaminated land," many people locally have written to the planning inspector, opposing the scheme. Marilyn Hedges, of Cliff Road, said: "Pendennis Headland is a jewel in Falmouth's crown, enjoyed on a daily basis by countless local people and tourists alike.

"Please do not spoilt it by allowing luxury flats to be built here which would also set a precedent for further Point developers. The last thing Falmouth needs is any more luxury flats and certainly not here in this area of outstanding natural beauty."

Peter Strevens, of Castle Drive, said simply: "This is an inappropriate development, too near the castle and will spoil the local area."

Many neighbouring residents are also concerned about the impact of the proposed development. "The single lane access road is 250 metres long, with only two passing bays, and so if several vehicles attempt to enter or leave the site at the same time then traffic chaos will easily ensue," said Jef Smith, a resident of the Spiral Collective Housing Co-operative.

"This tailback on Castle Drive would create a hazard not only for all headland traffic, but also for pedestrians, who have to cross the access lane at this point to access the coastal footpath."

The co-operative launched a petition against the proposals which has so far attracted more than 3,700 signatures. It can be found at tinyurl.com/saveourpendennis.