Campaigners battling against plans to build a boutique hotel and apartments on a beachfront site have welcomed the developer’s decision to withdraw them.

The Friends of Pendower Beach have been campaigning against the plans to redevelop the former Pink Hotel site on The Roseland.

Developers had wanted to turn the site into a 14-bedroom boutique hotel, a new restaurant and 25 residential apartments.

However the plans attracted more than 500 objections and it has now been revealed that the proposals have been withdrawn.

The withdrawal comes after planning officers wrote to the developers advising that the plans would be considered as “major development” and that under planning policy would only be allowed in exceptional circumstances and where it would be in the public interest due to the sensitive nature of the site which is in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

The applicants had proposed reducing the amount of properties to be built and planning officers said that while this was welcomed the overall scheme would still impact the landscape.

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There had also been objections from the AONB unit, the council’s landscape officer, Natural England and Cornwall Wildlife Trust.

The council’s affordable housing unit had also objected as there were no plans for any affordable housing or a contribution towards off-site affordable housing.

Planning officer Mark Ball advised the applicants to withdraw the application and continue to have detailed discussions with the council and members of the public to find a scheme which would be acceptable.

Helen Hastings, chair of The Friends of Pendower Beach, said the group was “delighted” that the plans had been withdrawn.

However she said that they expected the applicants to submit alternative plans in future.

The Pendower Beach House Hotel was famously pink. Photo: Tony Atkin

The Pendower Beach House Hotel was famously pink. Photo: Tony Atkin

She said: “It has been withdrawn with the planning officer’s encouragement and, from our point of view, that is all good. Our concern now is what happens next.”

Mrs Hastings added: “There is a derelict building on there and everybody would like to see it redeveloped, but it has to be with something that is respectful and sympathetic to the area”

She said that people in the area used to like the old hotel and said that if it was to be replaced with something similar then that would be welcomed.

But she said: “The developers didn’t really listen to that. They were determined to build houses as that is the only way to make something viable.”

“Whatever ends up there needs to be in the public interest and not harm the area. It is not all over until something is built on that site.”