An old mining area in a picturesque Cornish surf village is set to be converted into luxury eco-friendly holiday homes, despite objections from local residents who fear it will become a “concrete jungle.”
Porthtowan, located on the St Agnes coast, is renowned for its stunning beaches that attract swimmers, surfers, and sunbathers alike.
Cornwall Council has given Valley Resorts conditional approval to construct 16 new holiday homes at Towan Valley Resorts. The approval also includes a new leisure facility featuring a pool, sauna, gym, changing rooms, and a deck.
These new developments will increase the number of eco-lodges on the site to 44. The area already hosts 26 cottages, ranging from two to four bedrooms, built in 2012 and originally sold for between £220,000 and £270,000.
Valley Resorts, the company behind the holiday resort, describes these cottages as “a triumph of contemporary eco-design and relaxed country style.” Each lodge is outfitted with amenities such as an outdoor hot tub and flat-screen TV, making them ideal for tourists and hikers eager to explore Cornwall’s scenic coastline.
However, the expansion plans have sparked controversy within the tight-knit community due to concerns over increased traffic, potential harm to local wildlife, and sewage issues.
Other objectors argue ‘additional holidays homes are not needed’ and the existing homes are already ‘mostly lying empty for the majority of the year’.
Of the 50 comments submitted by members of the public, all but one was in opposition to the development.
Existing eco holiday homes on a site which is set to be expanded in the Towan Valley, Porthtowan
The new plans, pictured, would bring the total number of eco-lodges on the site to 44
Pictured: How the eco-homes will look, as per images on the Towan Valley Resorts website
Nestled between Portreath and Perranporth, Portthowan is a surfer’s paradise – but in recent years has seen a spate of Airbnbs pop up along the coastline
Western Cliff in the old mining village of Porthtowan pictured in 1925 – the area was once a big player in the mining industry
One objector warned: ‘Visually the valley will be turned into a concrete jungle’
One objector commented on the planning application: ‘Visually the valley will be turned into a concrete jungle.
‘There are owls, birds and endangered bats and slow worms. Wildlife needs our support not our discouragement from coming to this beautiful area.
‘Sewage work needs addressing before anymore building happens as Porthtowan’s surrounding areas can’t cope as it is.
‘Porthtowan and surrounding areas need permanent, affordable living homes, not more holiday homes to address the housing crisis.’
Another said: ‘It makes no sense to create more holiday lets in an area saturated with them, with rapidly declining levels of holiday makers. It makes no sense to destroy a natural habitat for no reason.’
A third reads: ‘Porthtowan already has too many holiday homes, we can’t house our locals.
‘Porthtowan can’t cope with the crowds that descend at holiday season, we don’t need any more adding to the stretched resources.
‘Nature not more tourists.’
One objector added: ‘Porthtowan is located in a narrow, deep-sided, winding valley.
‘It is already a popular tourist destination due to its Blue Flag beach and surf, and during the summer months, the village becomes overwhelmed with visitors and holiday lets.
‘The infrastructure cannot support the resulting volume of traffic and pedestrians.
‘Roads are frequently gridlocked, parking is inappropriate, and the area becomes chaotic and unsafe.’
However the only comment in favour of the development said: ‘Great scheme for the local area. Will create jobs and more money spent in the local economy.’
The development site for the new works pictured behind already existing eco holiday homes
Pictured: The application site for the development works highlighted in red to the left of already consented and existing development sites
Pictured: Planning application drawings on the council’s website show the proposed boundary lines on the site
Porthtowan is known for its stretch of breath-taking beaches which make popular spots for swimming, surfing and sunbathing
The Porthtowan mines mainly produced copper in the 1800s but lead, iron, tin and zinc were also found
The approval for a further 16 homes is conditional and a habitat management plan must be prepared alongside the approved biodiversity assessment before building can begin.
An assessment of the risks posed by any contamination as well as a landscape and environmental management plan must also be submitted and approved.
Andrew Clark, CEO at Valley Resorts, said: ‘It’s fantastic to now be able to move forward with the next era of the Towan Valley resort, creating both short-term and long-term jobs and stimulating the development of further public realm for local people on the beautiful Cornish coast.
‘We have worked incredibly closely with our planning consultants Avison Young and Cornwall Council to address any prior concerns about the site, and we look forward to delivering a sustainable, high-quality development of holiday homes.’
Porthtowan is a historic mining village where seven prominent mines produced copper in the 1800s but lead, iron, tin and zinc were also found.
