Planning

Large developments like that proposed for the Beach at Carlyon Bay are geared up to the lengthy process which is planning procedure, so although the CBW campaign has now been going for several years, we expect to be fighting on the beaches for much time to come.

It is a recognised practice that large developers look out for extant planning permissions in areas with development potential, especially areas where there is a lack of adequate local expertise, or a laissez-faire local council, or both. Typically, the development company will then use the conditions of the extant permission as a lever, create an eyesore under the auspices of having started work and begin the long but ultimately rewarding process of going for the monetary gains. Submitting and re-submitting planning applications is part of the game. If, from the developers point of view, an awkward public inquiry is ordered it can be side-stepped by submitting a new planning application. It can cost the local authority and thereby the public purse thousands in the person-hours which need to be allocated to it and in the cost of ordering expert reports. With fat financial backing, a wealthy developer can effectively hold an authority to ransom and wear down opposition to get what it wants.

The situation that we would find really embarrassing would be if the developers were to walk away leaving the beach like this.

Restormel Council’s Development Chairman Malcolm Brown, to BBC correspondent, Adrian Campbell, on BBC Spotlight, December 20th 2004

CBW are aware that this goes on. This planning process needs to be reformed, but in the meantime, we are not worn down and must continue to fight within the existing system. So...

As soon as the next new Ampersand application is lodged and made public, we will publish the relevant reference number and address here. We would urge you to use all your democratic power to write in to object alongside us.

If you have the time or the resources and would like to help our campaign please write, email or phone us and a member of CBW will be in touch with you with further details.