CAD Architects / Kingsley Leisure Developments Limited
On the 21st November 2024, Cornwall Council approved the plans despite 350 people opposing the proposal on the council’s online portal and nearly 3 hours of debate in the County Hall.
The resort from Kingsley Leisure Developments will be set over 70 hectares near Quintrell Downs and plans to include a spa, swimming pool, indoor activity centre, food outlets and numerous outdoor activities, such as a water park and walking trail.
The developers claim their aim is not to replicate existing holiday parks but to “encompasses a holistic approach to sustainability”, with an on-site solar farm and battery storage facility to generate enough energy for all of the accommodation.
Approximately 250 of the properties will be sold as holiday homes with full endorsement from Hoseasons, the UK’s market leading provider of holiday accommodation.
Jonathan Lambe, a planning consultant, represented the local objectors: “This proposal will have a catastrophic impact on the landscape, overwhelm local amenities, shatter peace and tranquillity and destroy the very reason holidaymakers visit this area.”
Lambe also shared concerns that Newquay does not have the infrastructure, for example the health care service, to support another holiday park in an already saturated market.
Newquay’s GP surgery also objected to the proposal.
Colan Parish Councillor, Kerry Martin, shared the thoughts of the community: “Quintrell Downs is already under immense pressure from the ongoing Nansledan development, which has ten years of construction remaining. This has caused significant congestion with residents facing hour-long traffic delays during peak tourist season just to travel one mile. The developer’s claims about minimal traffic impact on the village roundabout do not align with our local experience.”
CAD Architects / Kingsley Leisure Developments Limited
Kieran Davies, a farmer living in Quintrell Downs, told us his concerns: “Destroying that amount of land not only is hugely detrimental to the environment and to our food security but also for the farmers. I’m not sure how many people work in those fields but I can guarantee this development will hugely strain their livelihood and put them out of a job.”
On the other hand, Martin Pollard, who supported the application, said: “The Green Ridge Resort is based on a proven format and similar schemes in other parts of the UK have delivered high quality tourism development with a high year-round occupancy supporting well-paid permanent jobs.”
Pollard stated the scheme would be hugely beneficial for the Cornish economy; “Creating 97 permanent full-time, 113 part-time jobs, 111 seasonal roles and hundreds more jobs through secondary employment. It represents a £60m capital investment and adds over £26m per year to the local economy.”
The applicant has argued that the development would be hugely positive for Cornwall with a focus on increasing tree canopy planting and “generating a biodiversity net gain to help address Cornwall’s climate emergency through on-site energy generation”, as well as providing job opportunities and relieving the housing market.
After considering the impacts on tourism, employment and housing, the council supported the Green Ridge Resort proposal, with five votes in favour and four against.
The plans outline that work will commence in 5 phases, with the first phase’s completion in 2027 and the project finishing in 2031.
CAD Architects / Kingsley Leisure Developments Limited