The owner of a Porthleven pub has launched an appeal against a decision to not let him develop its car park.

Mr Allnutt had wanted to build a three-bedroom house with two parking spaces and a terraced garden on the land in Peverell Terrace, opposite the Atlantic Inn.

He had claimed that if the work did not go ahead the pub would close, stating in his application to Cornwall Council: "The Atlantic Inn has only survived through private cash injection, which is no longer available. The only way the pub can continue to trade is for the development of the car park. Without this, the pub will close and the pub will look to redevelop into residential housing."

However, planning officer Martin Jose had refused planning permission using delegated powers and an appeal against this has now been launched.

Falmouth Packet:

A sketch showing the proposed house, with the pub in the background

Despite 17 letters of objection sent to the council with concerns over road safety, close proximity to neighbours and loss of the pub’s “iconic view,” in the appeal statement submitted on Mr Allnutt's behalf it is claimed: "The proposed development has robust policy support at both local and national level, and there are compelling material planning considerations in favour of the

proposed development."

It describes the site as "a derelict piece of land" that is "currently in poor condition, which detracts from the amenity of the conservation area." The house would be an "attractive" addition, with the design "sympathetic" to the area.

It goes on to add that scale and size of the development was in line with other buildings approved by Cornwall Council over the last two years.

In his reasons for refusal Mr Jose had described the proposal as a “poor quality design” that would not fit with the local character and distinctiveness of its prominent location, coupled with its “excessive scale” that would not improve the conservation area and area of outstanding natural beauty.

His second reason was that the elevated position, height, size of the proposed house, along with its close proximity to neighbouring Compass Cottage, would “unacceptably harm the outlook from, and be unacceptably overbearing upon, this neighbouring dwelling.”