EACH week, hundreds of planning applications come before Cornwall Council’s planning department, seeking to win approval for various plans right across the Duchy, with some concerning Holsworthy handled by Torridge District Council.

These plans can comprise of a number of different reasonings– ranging from permission to replace windows or listed building consent ranging up to large house building developments or changing of use of a building, for instance, from an office to a café, or flats.

Within this large and often complex system, there are a number of formats from which planning advice and approval can be sought.

These range from full applications where all the details which comprise a proposed development or work to a building are submitted, to outline applications, where further details are yet to be confirmed, for example, an outline application with reserved matters for appearance may not confirm the final proposed development but rather seek permission in principle.

An example of this is one for an outline permission for 20 dwellings on land with reserved matters for appearance and scale; the reserved matters would require further permission later for their inclusion.

Other types of applications include pre-application advice requests, where would-be developers submit often outline proposals to a local authority to ascertain whether it is likely to gain support or not prior to submitting a planning application.

The vast majority of applications are decided by planning officers employed by a local authority under ‘delegated powers’, meaning they do so on behalf of their employer, however, some applications are ‘called in’ by local councillors to be discussed at an area’s strategic planning committee meeting, meaning the final decision rests with a committee of councillors.

A well-known chef has applied to make a range of changes to a renowned hotel he took ownership of earlier this year. Paul Ainsworth has submitted a planning application for extension and alteration works at the 100-year-old St Enodoc Hotel in Rock, reports the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

If approved, the work will include a modern glazed extension, green roof and first-floor terrace alongside the addition of two new bedrooms through reconfiguration, increasing the total number from 21 to 23, which would be achieved without expansion of the building footprint.

The introduction of a new commercial kitchen, dedicated residents’ lounge, bar and garden room restaurant will “elevate the hotel’s offering while supporting the creation of new permanent and seasonal employment opportunities in the area,” according to a supporting statement by Cornwall Planning Group.

The St Enodoc Hotel has been in operation since the 1920s and is positioned on an elevated part of Rock with views across the Camel Estuary. In January 2025, renowned chef Paul Ainsworth and his wife Emma bought the hotel, adding it to their growing hospitality portfolio known as The Ainsworth Collection.

The Ainsworth business group employs approximately 200 local people across its portfolio of enterprises. The couple’s ventures include:

· Paul Ainsworth at No.6 – Their flagship Michelin-starred restaurant in Padstow

· Caffè Rojano – An Italian restaurant that was rebranded in 2020, offering a New York/Italian-inspired menu, also in Padstow

· Padstow Townhouse – A boutique guesthouse offering six luxury suites with in-room spa treatments and a pantry stocked with local produce

· The Mariners – A historic pub in Rock, relaunched in 2019 with a new menu and interiors

· Mahé – A cookery school and chef’s table named after the Seychelles island where Paul’s parents met offering intimate dining experiences and culinary classes

· Various educational and charity works.

· The St Enodoc Hotel currently employs 38 staff members on a year-round basis. This workforce expands to around 80 during the busy tourism season.

The planning statement adds: “The hotel will also play a vital role in relieving pressure on other visitor venues in the area, including the Mariners Public House, which is under the same ownership. By providing expanded and diversified guest and dining facilities, the St Enodoc Hotel will help distribute footfall and traffic more evenly, indirectly benefiting local residents, emergency services, and broader community infrastructure.”

For more details see planning application PA25/05306 on the council’s website.

AN outline application has been submitted by Wentworth Healthcare Ltd for residential development of land for eight sheltered housing units including layout, scale and access at Beaumont Court Residential Home, Church Hill, North Petherwin, near Launceston.

The home provides accommodation for 40 residents and the proposed sheltered housing dwellings would complement the care provision and be a suitable addition to the local housing stock, says a planning statement. “Each unit will provide flexible independent living accommodation within walking distance of bus stops, shops and recreational uses affording this site as a highly sustainable location for new dwellings.

In an accompanying planning statement, the agent for the applicant gave some details of their proposed plans. They said: “The proposed individual sheltered housing units are designed around a landscaped courtyard development of single storey dwellings. There are eight dwellings which comprise of 6 x 2 bed units and 2 x 1 bed units. These are of single storey construction, whilst being traditional in appearance with white rendered walls and set under grey tile roofs. They are modern sustainable homes meeting current building regulation standards with energy efficiency in mind. The layout of the individual units is shown on the drawings.

“The two bedroom supported housing units are specifically designed with future proofing and flexibility in mind, the needs for elderly residents will vary and the second bedroom can be essential as it offers the ability for a carer to stop over if required during the later stages of care. If residents are more active in their earlier senior years they may chose for family and friends to stop with them.

“North Petherwin has a long established Care Home at Beaumont Court and supported homes for the elderly would be a natural addition to the facilities provided on site.

“Older persons living in sheltered accommodation like the added security and reassurance of a Centre Duty Manager on hand living in close proximity to their own homes and this will be provided from the Beaumont Court Residential Home.

“An alarm call service will also be available 24 hours per day.

“From a construction point of view the build is straightforward, the site is relatively level and land drains will carry surface water to the existing watercourse which leads to the River Ottery managed by South West Water.

“A drainage engineer will be appointed to design the surface water drainage system which will involve a flow control chamber provided by geo-cellular attenuation tanks. There is an existing pumping station for foul drainage from Beaumont Court Care Home, this is located in the south east corner of the Beaumont Court site.

“This pumping station will be upgraded and an additional pump will be installed which will discharge the foul sewer up into the mains sewer on Church Hill.

“For more details see planning application PA25/02420 on the council’s website.”

Keep up to date with the latest planning applications and other statutory notices (such as alcohol licensing and probates) that affect where you live by visiting our online Public Notice Portal – be the first to know by visiting www.publicnoticeportal.uk/cornish-and-devon-post-series