Complex 'will go ahead as planned'

PLANS for an apartment complex in Newquay will go ahead – despite a company applying to turn the land into a temporary car park for the summer.

Merchant House (Reading) Ltd has asked Cornwall Council for planning permission for a temporary car park on the former St Brannocks and Tolcarne Hotel sites, on Narrowcliff. The car park will have 66 car parking bays, including three disabled spaces, an operator's cabin and temporary security fencing around the outside.

How- ever, developers Maxam Property (Newquay) Ltd had previously obtained planning permission to transform the two former hotels into an apartment block.

Stuart Shield, of estate agents Bradleys who are marketing the property, said plans for the five-storey Tolcarne development, of 48 holiday rooms, 22 apartments and five penthouse units, will definitely still go ahead in a few months' time.

"The apartments are still being built, but have been put on hold for the next two to three months," he said. "The developer was worried that with the current state of the economy, Newquay would be flooded with holiday flats that no-one will buy. So he has decided to lease the site to a car park company. This will hopefully encourage people to park up on that end of the town and bring some more life to that area. It will also help things like the Rocklands and the new Pizza Express. That's his plan."

The development, designed by Sheffield Architects CODA, includes several retail units for the ground floor – a restaurant, bakery and delicatessen. The penthouse flats will have coastal views and were expected to sell for large sums – possibly around £350,000 to £500,000. Stuart said sales of the apartments are progressing as usual.

"We've exchanged on many of the apartments – we have 20 pre-sales already and those people won't be disappointed," he said. "Buyers are a mixture of local and people from far away. The retail units will also provide some more jobs for local people."