by Joice Channon - The Cornishman
04 March 2004

Affordable homes could be built within Penlee Quarry itself and the surrounding land, or within neighbouring communities, according to a new report from Marine Developments Ltd - the company which has acquired 100 acres of land for the ambitious £57-million Port Penlee project.

The report into the regeneration of the old quarry and foreshore comes almost a year after MDL revealed that the five-star Penlee quarry marina development was "under starter's orders" following a four-year land assembly and acquisition process started by local man Tony Jarman. His visionary scheme to create a marina in the quarry basin, a luxury hotel with holiday villas, residential properties - including affordable homes - retail, restaurant and visitor attractions and facilities will, says MDL, act as a catalyst to the creation of a long-term viable economic maritime-based community.

The report by Southampton-based MDL underlines the links between Newlyn and Penlee in relationship to the strategy for Newlyn and sets out how the Penlee project will complement the strategy.

These include the provision of visitor accommodation and new visitor numbers; the provision of development land adjacent to Newlyn that could accommodate a number of proposed economic investments and add to the number of potential yachts able to sail and reside in Mount's Bay.

In addition to the creation of more than 200 jobs in Newlyn, the project would include an element of affordable housing either within the quarry, the surrounding land or within neighbouring communities.

The report states: "Housing is an issue due to the relatively high gap between income and house prices considered to be primarily driven through second homes. There is no easy answer to this and probably the long-term solution is to provide the building blocks for a long-term sustainable growth in the local economy which will allow residents to compete more competitively with those wanting second homes.

"However, Penlee could provide an opportunity for a number of possible scenarios which may alleviate demand by providing many affordable homes through imaginative design and build in combination with other uses."

Port Penlee's strategic objectives are:

• To create a modern marina capable of mooring 190 boats on the water, 150 boats on a dry stack which would be operated in conjunction with an hotel;
• To provide infrastructure which would enable commercial development such as retail and gallery space to complement Newlyn;
• To consider the provision of housing, the type and mix of which to be determined through consultation.
• To provide a large car-park;
• To develop the project in a way which improves the quality and maintains the identity of Newlyn.

The report presents a time-scale of 50-60 weeks for the consent stage, followed by a two-year build for the main infrastructure works.

It points out: "Mount's Bay and the Scilly Isles are areas which do not benefit from the high numbers of visiting yachts which Falmouth enjoys, primarily due to the lack of facilities and safe harbours.

"The sailing area is such that without a safe haven Mount's Bay is considered a more adventurous place to sail with yachts heading west once round the Lizard and Land's End and committed to long passages.

"The Scilly Isles does not lend itself to storage and safe anchorage for many yachts but would represent a good day's sailing to and from the Newlyn area. Penlee will act as a safe haven for those wishing to venture further west and on to the islands. The provision of Penlee will act as a catalyst for further smaller development of visitor yacht facilities in Mount's Bay."

article copyright © THE CORNISHMAN