Car park at Godrevy beach in Cornwall needs to be moved

The National Trust says if the the car park at the popular beach in Cornwall isn’t moved it will soon be unable to be used, which would have a significant impact on the area.

The trust has sought pre-application advice to move its car park at Godrevy Head to nearby Godrevy Farm, with a new access road, conversion of buildings to provide a toilet and staff kiosk, demolition of other buildings, new landscaping and ecological enhancements, and the conversion of the existing farm house to a holiday let.

A supporting statement says the scheme offers the opportunity to remove clifftop parking from the prominent headland in an area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB) at Godrevy Towans, Gwithian, and focus it on a neighbouring farm with a lower impact on the landscape.

Currently there is a narrow road that leads to the existing car park, which is difficult for two-way traffic in some parts.

Part of the existing road leading to Godrevy Head

A planning statement reads: “The existing access route is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain because of coastal erosion and without action the important facility will not be able accessed in the medium term. This would have significant economic and social adverse impacts on the local area.

“In transport terms, the project is relatively simple, effectively relocating the car parking from one area of the wider Godrevy site to another, less visually sensitive, location. With the parking moved to the farm yard area, the access road will be rerouted inland to the north west of the café car park. This will allow for the creation of improved facilities for pedestrians.”

The same number of spaces is proposed but with improvements such as surface treatments and bays. Access from the main road won’t be altered.

See more details about the pre-application on the Cornwall Council website planning portal, reference PA23/01468/PREAPP.