Tweaked plans for a much-criticised five-storey Premier Inn in St Ives have failed to appease many locals who are still vehemently opposed to the proposed development.

Premier’s parent company Whitbread announced last month that it had reduced the 100-bedroom hotel to 90 rooms and decreased its height by 50cm after taking on board feedback from people in St Ives.

However, since the new plans were revealed over 100 residents have objected on Cornwall Council’s online planning register, taking the number of comments about the hotel development to almost 600 with hardly any in support.

The hotel would replace the existing Cornwallis Nursing Home on Trewidden Road if approved.

Cornwall Planning Group has written an objection letter on behalf of residents who live near the site. It states: “The proposed building, by reason of its height, massing, materials and finishes, would result in an incongruous and highly prominent form of development that would harm the character and appearance of the historic context of St Ives.

“Furthermore, the proposal provides limited parking for a hotel of this scale; has limited pedestrian connectivity; may further exacerbate congestion and road safety in the area; provides limited opportunity for landscaping and will likely negatively impact surrounding residential amenity in terms of overbearing, potential overlooking, noise, disturbance and odour. The proposal does not accord with national or local planning policy.”

Louise Woodruff, property acquisitions manager at Whitbread, said the company had made “many changes” to its original plans in response to feedback from members of the community and other stakeholders. “Our revised plans have ten fewer guest bedrooms than we initially proposed, and we have also significantly changed the design and architectural materials in response to community feedback.

“We have made the changes and compromised on the size of the hotel as we believe in the location and the benefits of a Premier Inn in St Ives. On opening, we expect to create around 30 permanent jobs and deliver a well-run, family-friendly, budget hotel that will appeal to leisure travellers as well as business guests year-round.”

However, a large number of people in and around St Ives are not happy with the changes.

Shelley Thornton, on behalf of a group of concerned residents, said: “We consider the changes to be negligible.

"A 0.5m drop in height, some stepping, and no use of copper cladding still leaves a monstrous blot overwhelming the town’s skyline, visible from the harbour and all over town. Indeed, we see the revised plans as cynical and as part of Whitbread’s modus operandi.”

 

How the view from the harbour would look with the addition of the proposed Premier Inn (Photo: Whitbread)

How the view from the harbour would look with the addition of the proposed Premier Inn (Photo: Whitbread)

 

Sally Allardyce wrote on the council’s planning portal: “I objected to the previous application and none of the objections raised in the previous application have been addressed.

"There is insufficient parking for the number of rooms, the implication is that visitors will use public transport which is misguided. The public car parks are already oversubscribed during peak season.

“Access to the proposed hotel is via a narrow road with no footpath. There is already an excess of holiday accommodation within St Ives. The infrastructure of the town is unable to facilitate extra visitors.”

Yvonne Clarke added: “St Ives does not need more accommodation, St Ives does not need more traffic, St Ives does not need a modern blot on its historic landscape, St Ives does not need a corporate big brand box, St Ives does not need mass tourism.

“St Ives thrives on small businesses, St Ives thrives on its rich fishing/arts culture, St Ives thrives on its local loyal people, St Ives thrives on loyal tourists who return year after year, St Ives thrives on local/thoughtful investment, St Ives thrives because of all the small things that makes it so unique.”

She continued: “There is no need or place for this development in St Ives. You can tweak it all you like but it has no place in a culturally rich small harbour town – not ever.

"The whole town must be made a conservation area to stop this and other monstrous corporate developments that will alter the whole area and damage the very core elements that make our Cornish heritage so very special.”

Ingrid Smith said: “Trying to get out onto Trewidden Road with the volume of traffic heading to the leisure centre car park is bad enough now. So adding another hotel where the care home is will just make matters worse.

"Also I understand that the hotel will be using so much of the car park. In high season this is going to cause huge problems. There is not enough parking for holidaymakers and day trippers now. It’s going to be a nightmare.”

The team behind the fresh plans will be hosting a webinar on the revised design and is keen to hear from members of the community. It takes place at 7pm on Monday, November 6.

Those interested in the proposals can sign up for the webinar here: https://app.livestorm.co/marengo-communications-1/premier-inn-st-ives-update-webinar?s=82825490-ad10-41ba-919f-ca0e084b1053

Ms Woodruff added: “Our idea is to use this webinar as a chance to share how we have arrived at the revised design at Trewidden Road and answer any questions on the plans.

"Everyone is welcome to join in and we would be happy to cover questions on the revised design as well as anything broader.”