Support for St Michael’s plans

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Detailed plans for the new St Michael’s Spa & Wellness Resort have now been submitted to Cornwall Council as a full planning application.

Falmouth councillors on the Town Council Planning Committee have given their unanimous support for the scheme and recommended it for approval.

The whole scheme will cost over £30 million and create over 90 new jobs, in addition to protecting an existing 115 full time equivalent jobs at St Michael’s and Falmouth Beach at present.

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The final plans were submitted after an extensive local consultation process.

Proprietor, Nigel Carpenter, said: “The reaction has been overwhelmingly positive which is fantastic. Over 90% of consultees have been extremely supportive, which is tremendous, given that it is a bold, exciting scheme.

“I think this reaction re-affirms what a go-ahead, forward looking and creative community Falmouth is.”

The main components of the original plan remain intact but there have been a number of improvement”.

The lower part of the main ‘Liner’ building now has an undulating grass roof which softens the scheme and picks up the lawns and landscaping at St Michael’s. The boat/liner metaphor has been strengthened and the public realm landscape “substantially improved”.

The vision for the whole resort is anchored around a major investment in new spa, health and wellness facilities across the site, and a major upgrading of the facilities. The accommodation on site reflects a more contemporary mix of hotel bedrooms, suites, apartments and four eco lodges.

There is an existing consent on the site for the re-building of the former Falmouth Beach Hotel but this was dubbed “a lost opportunity” by planners and the Falmouth Civic Society.

It is also known that developers of retirement apartments and a budget hotel group are interested in the site. Carpenter conceded that those two routes are likely to be more profitable to develop but that they would be “a tragic waste of one of Falmouth’s best locations”.

The planning application has now been submitted to Cornwall Council, with a decision expected in early November.