Councillors reject housing development plans

The development would have created 40 flats on Penzance seafront for local use

Councillors have rejected a development in Penzance that would demolish a derelict building and create 40 new homes for local people.

The site on the seafront is being developed by Treveth, the arm's-length development company of Cornwall Council.

The council's West Sub-area Planning Committee met on Monday, with five voting for the plan and five against.

As a result, the chairman had the casting vote, which resulted in it being rejected.

The former PZ Gallery building has been empty for nearly 10 years

The housing would have been reserved for local people, with 30% allocated for affordable homes.

It divided opinion in the town. Opponents said it was too big and they did not like planned changes to nearby St Anthony Gardens.

The site used to be a garage showroom and later became a gallery and arts venue, but has been empty for nearly 10 years.

Former town councillor John Moorland led the objections.

He said the site would be better used for leisure rather than housing, and said the gardens could be a new "destination" for the town.

He said Penzance "had enough affordable housing being built in other places", and added "Penzance deserves better".

Treveth's plans for the new building and gardens

Developer Treveth said it had "made a concerted effort to try to address the direct feedback from the community and the town council" and it had hoped that it had achieved this with amended proposals.

Recent changes to the plans included lowering the building, changing the colour of the façade and removing plans for a restaurant building in St Anthony Gardens.

Dick Cliffe said there was an acute housing need in the area

The project, had it been approved, would have been part funded with £3.6m from the government's Future High Streets Fund.

Dick Cliffe, a former mayor and part of the Town Deal Board, said: "It's a depressing site.

"We've got really acute housing need and there's an opportunity to do something about it."

He said that he was worried that the refusal of the plans could mean the site would be "left to a private developer who will build mainly luxury flats".

Follow BBC Cornwall on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [e-mail].