St Ives Premier Inn 'monstrosity' will be built after hotel appeal succeeds

DESPITE Cornwall Council refusing it and hundreds of people objecting - describing it a “monstrosity” and “far too big and ugly” - a planning inspector has decided that the controversial 90-room Premier Inn overlooking St Ives can now be built.

- by LEE TREWHELA Local Democracy Reporter [e-mail] @Lee Trewhela

More than 100 residents opposed to the proposal packed a meeting in the town in March at which the hotel giant appealed against a Cornwall Council planning committee’s rejection of its application in April last year.

Councillors originally threw it out because, they said, it would harm to the character and appearance of the area, but planning inspector Sylvia Leonard has now approved the proposal, stating that it “would not appear as unduly visually prominent or discordant within the hillside setting of the town and would not harm the setting of the conservation area”.

Planning permission is now granted for the demolition of a care home which currently occupies the site at Trewidden Road and construction of the hotel, along with associated landscaping, infrastructure and parking.

Louise Woodruff, property acquisitions manager for Whitbread, which owns the hotel brand, said: “We are very pleased that our planning appeal to bring Premier Inn to St Ives has been allowed. We will now work with the owner of Trewidden Care Home [Cornwallis Care Services] to complete the purchase of the site.

“This process is expected to take at least six months, [allowing] time for Cornwallis Care to [help] the residents and their families to transition to appropriate accommodation within their group.”