By Rashleigh MacFarlane

The final part of a major harbour redevelopment scheme at Hayle is to make another attempt to secure planning permission next week, after concerns were raised about the impact it would have on a World Heritage Site.

A reserved matters planning application, covering aspects such as design and layout, for the North Quay development at Hayle Harbour went before Cornwall Council’s strategic planning committee last month.

The proposals include 375 homes, industrial space, a hotel, sports and leisure facilities and public open space. Development at the harbour is already underway and outline planning permission had previously been granted for the entire project.

Now the “reserved matters” application is to come back before Cornwall Council’s strategic planning committee next week, following revisions which the developers hope will address concerns raised by the International Council On Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), which comments on behalf of UNESCO on World Heritage Sites.

In a report recommending that the scheme should now get the go-ahead, planning officers say: “There were three areas of concern raised by Historic England and the WHS Office and subsequently endorsed by ICOMOS.

“The applicant in response to these concerns has amended the proposal with a further reduction in the size of the dry berth area and repositioning of dwelling in the Hilltop area to maintain the sight lines through the scheme.

“These changes represent a further positive move by the applicant to address concerns about the impact on the heritage assets.”

“The changes do not fully address the points that ICOMOS raised. As such while ICOMOS have not commented on the revisions it is expected that they would express similar concerns to those of Historic England and WHS Office.

“As set out in the original report, there will be some negative impacts on the heritage assets, which require due consideration. The greatest harm will be to the Outstanding Universal Value of the WHS, although given the nature and extent of the impacts it was determined this harm is less than substantial, with lesser impacts on the conservation area and listed buildings.