New site plan for Hospital Cross in Helston with The Range removed

A full planning application was submitted last September for the development of land at the top of town to include a McDonald's, Aldi, The Range and Costa.

The 2.7 hectare greenfield site is at Hospital Cross, between the Sainsbury’s supermarket and Flambards Theme Park, and RNAS Culdrose.

However, a new site plan has now been submitted by the Pegasus Group, on behalf of Parsonage Developments Ltd, which shows the removal of The Range from the plans.

It follows an objection from the Ministry of Defence, which led to developers and planners agreeing an eight-week delay in order to make room for re-consultation, after it was found the current proposals would need to be altered or face being rejected.

The objection stated that the development would fall within a safeguarding zone of one of the MoD's air navigation aids, a High Resolution Direction Finder (HRDF), which is located on a mast near the runway at RNAS Culdrose.

The safeguarding zone that surrounds the HRDF is designed to maintain a protected line of slope around the instrument, so that it is not obstructed or its performance degraded by nearby buildings or structures.

The site plan now, with The Range removed Picture: The Pegasus Group/Cornwall Council

Alongside the safeguarding zone infringement, the MoD also gave concerns regarding bird strikes that could come as a result of the development, "providing additional attractants for hazardous birds, resulting in an increase in bird strike risk to aircraft operating out of RNAS Culdrose."

The MoD also raised concerns that litter generated by the development could find its way on to the base's runway, causing a 'Foreign Object Debris' hazard.

The new site plan shows Aldi relocated further away from the Culdrose side of the site, into the space that would previously have been occupied by The Range.

The remaining area is now designated as a service yard, and car parking, following a redesign of the parking spaces.

Details of the McDonald's and Costa layout look to remain unchanged.

The previous site plan with The Range alongside Aldi Picture: Pegasus.

The application continues to divide opinion, with members of the public commenting as recently as February and March of this year.

The most recent comment was in support, with the writer saying: "I fully support this development in the hope it will improve my children's quality of life, save me money in petrol to travel further afield to use these businesses, and bring jobs and business to Helston.

"I also will be going back to work very soon and as someone experienced in retail I can see the potential of securing a job in one of these businesses."

Another wrote: "Interest in Helston is declining rapidly as it does not have much to offer. I believe these new businesses are an extremely good idea to bring more attention to the town and also more jobs for locals."

However, a third person wrote: "As a resident of the Lizard Peninsula I strongly object to this proposed development for several reasons."

He went on to list some of these, including traffic, describing the roundabouts that would be impacted by the proposal as "already horrendous during summer months," adding: "The days are many when the traffic is backed up for miles in all directions from these intersections. This is the only way off the Lizard and the traffic presents more than an inconvenience, it is a significant concern for health and safety. Imagine rushing to A&E, or evacuating an area due to a fire that escapes control."

He also listed conservation as another reason, along with concern over noise disturbance and smells, in particular air pollution, concluding: "I believe this proposed development will be a social, fiscal, and and healthcare burden to our community."

In total Cornwall Council has received 282 comments from the public so far, with 190 objecting and 88 in favour.

The latest site plan and proposed designs can be found on Cornwall Council's website, under the plans PA21/07481.