Wetherspoons in Cornwall bid for Falmouth roof terrace garden changes

It took The Packet Station, the town's JD Wetherspoon pub, four years to get planning permission to develop a roof-top garden on top of the building on The Moor.

This was finally agreed in February 2021 and the pub closed on June 26 this year for works to be carried out over the next six months.

However, the company has now submitted a new planning application to Cornwall Council for a number of 'non-material amendments'.

If give the go-ahead, this would see some alterations to the agreed designs. It would include an increase in the staircase canopy size, in order to leave more space for the void surrounding staircase one.

Staircase two would also be widened from 1m to 1.2m, and escape staircase six would be replaced with a new staircase that matches the existing one there.

The company wants to add new glass acoustic screening, 1.55m high, to the roof terrace, and extend the staircase five lobby area on the roof terrace.

A new drinks hoist would be added in an extended drinks/food servery area on the terrace, and new pergola structures would be added, in addition to "other minor internal alterations."

Explaining the reasoning for the proposed changes, the company said it would result in: "Better utilisation of space and improving conditions and functionality of existing features (staircases)."

The proposed layout of the terrace after the changes Picture: kdpa/Cornwall Council

JD Wetherspoon has previously said it would be investing more than £2.6 million into redeveloping The Packet Station.

It had been expected to reopen with the new works completed towards the end of November/early December; it is not clear when the proposed changes will delay this schedule. All of the pub’s 65 staff have been relocated to work at other Wetherspoon pubs in the area during the closure.

The roof top garden is expected to have room for 120 customers and include a lift for customers with disabilities to access the roof top garden.

Despite objections from neighbours and Falmouth Civic Society, Cornwall Council gave the go-ahead for the terrace with conditions in February 2021.

READ MORE:

• Wetherspoons pub roof terrace given go-ahead - with conditions

It was first mooted in 2017, before being refused by Cornwall Council in January 2018, and then again by a planning inspector on appeal the following October, over noise and conservation issues.

The proposed frontage including acoustic screening Picture: kdpa/Cornwall Council

Pub manager Aaron Niles said earlier in the summer: "The Packet Station is an extremely popular pub and our aim is to offer our customers the best possible pub experience.

"We are confident that the addition of the roof top garden as well as the refurbishment work will create a fantastic pub.

"When the pub reopens we will employ an additional 30 to 40 staff which is also good news for the town.

"The investment highlights Wetherspoon's commitment to the pub, its staff and customers, as well as Falmouth, and hopefully it will act as a catalyst for other businesses to invest in the town."