Councillors have refused planning permission for a harbourside restaurant to extend its seating area due to concerns about the impact it would have on a listed building.

Porthleven Harbour and Dock Company, owned by Trevor Osborne, had applied for planning permission and listed building consent to make changes to the Harbourside Refuge Restaurant and Bar.

The application was to build a covered roof extension over the existing terrace and convert a pergola roof into a terrace and outdoor seating area.

It would have seen changes to the outside of The Old China Clay Building and Pergola which is located on the edge of the harbour.

The applications went before Cornwall Council’s west sub-area planning committee on Tuesday morning and were refused.

Planning officers had recommended that the applications should be approved, saying that the impact of the development would not be significant and would result in “less than substantial harm” on the heritage assets.

However, the building is Grade II listed and historic environment planning officers had said that they could not see how the proposals would enhance the historic building.

They said: “There appears to be no positive gain for the listed building beyond the provision of more seating areas and an increased sized restaurant.

 

CGI of the proposed Porthleven harbourside restaurant plans which have been refused permission

CGI of the proposed Porthleven harbourside restaurant plans which have been refused permission

 

“Also, there is the additional visual impact of creating a vastly increased seating area at previous pergola roof level – which is also going to provide additional higher visual impacts which surely are at a variance to the historic context of this part of the harbour and Porthleven. Especially when viewed across the other side of the inner harbour to this site.”

Mike Toy from Porthleven Town Council said that councillors objected to the plans and agreed with the comments from historic environment officers.

He said that “the visual context of this historic listed building is being watered down” and said there was “very little economic benefit for Porthleven” other than “some zero hours contract jobs”.

Cllr Toy also quoted former Cornish MP, the late David Penhaligon saying: “There is more to Cornwall than ice cream and deckchairs.”

Local Cornwall councillor John Keeling said that he knew Porthleven well as he lived there during the 1980s. But he said that in recent times the town was getting more and more busy with visitors.

He said that Porthleven was “becoming a victim of its own success” with increasingly congested roads and problems with parking.

 

CGI of the proposed Porthleven harbourside restaurant plans which have been refused permission

CGI of the proposed Porthleven harbourside restaurant plans which have been refused permission

 

Cllr Keeling said that he was concerned about the impact the proposals would have on the historic character of the building and surrounding area.

Committee member Loveday Jenkin said that she was very concerned about the impact on the listed building and was also concerned that the changes would mean the loss of space used for small businesses to trade.

She added: “We need to grab the nettle of what is good for our tourism areas. Piling in more and more seating is not the way forward. Porthleven will turn into Padstow if we are not careful.”

Cllr Jenkin proposed refusal based on the impact the proposals would have on heritage assets and the listed building.

That was agreed with seven votes in favour, one against and one abstention. The listed building consent application, which was considered separately, was also refused.