Scheme including 500 homes can proceed this Spring if bat mitigation licence is secured

Carlyon Bay

Artist impression of the proposed Carlyon Bay development

A 拢250m resort proposed for Carlyon Bay in Cornwall has been given planning approval by the county council.

The plans, submitted by developer Commercial Estates Group (CEG), involve construction of over 500 homes plus leisure facilities on the 20-hectare site of the old Cornwall Coliseum near St Austell.

However, the project involves demolition of existing buildings, where bats currently roost, and the planning approval is subject to a bat mitigation licence being granted by Natural England.

This could delay the scheme, according to Jon Kenny, development director for CEG: 鈥淲e鈥檝e always said that the demolition is dependent on all planning approvals being in place before it鈥檚 feasible to start the process so we very much hope that we鈥檙e able to push the button this spring and begin to bring the resort into fruition.

鈥淲e have a small window of opportunity due to restrictions surrounding the bird nesting season and the presence of roosting bats. If it鈥檚 missed, nothing can progress until the autumn - which in turn impacts on the beginning of construction for the whole project.

鈥淔rom an operational perspective, it makes no sense for us to begin any work until we鈥檙e certain that we can implement the full scheme and the transition between demolition and the main works has continuity.鈥�

CEG acquired the derelict Carlyon Bay site in 2002. The scheme was originally given planning permission by Cornwall Council in June 2011, before being put on hold due to the recession.

The revised development includes:

  • Up to 511 new homes, a mixture of apartments, houses and villas;
  • An apart-hotel, sports and leisure facilities, shops, restaurants, caf茅s and bars;
  • 840 car parking spaces.

The project will also require work on sea defences,  a new channel for the Sandy River, plus cliff stabilisation.

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