Plans for potential 1,000-home development of Hayle's North Quay to be presented to the public

North Quay, Hayle, photographed during 2012 when the site was owned by ING Real Estates

After six years of discussion and debate the first phase of plans to build what could eventually be as many as 1,000 new homes in Hayle will be revealed to the general public next week.

The proposal to revitalise Hayle's North Quay were originally given outline approval but will now come forward again.

The process which has involved heritage stakeholders and the UNESCO World Heritage team was delayed slightly when previous owner ING Real Estate put the harbour up for sale in 2013.

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But since acquiring the site in 2015 new owner Sennybridge has moved forward with the pre-application consultation and specific heritage led discussions that have formed a major part of this years' work at Hayle Harbour.

The process lead architect Matt Williams, from Feilden Clegg Bradley, said: "It's beyond complex. The challenge of managing a post-industrial future for Hayle Harbour, which mixes residential requirements with the operational needs of a harbour is immense."

North Quay, Hayle, photographed during 2012 when the site was owned by ING Real Estates.

Joanne Cave, from planners David Lock Associate,s believed the work that has been done takes nothing away from the ambitious nature of the original scheme, but has allowed the heritage lobby to have a real say over plans.

During the process planners and consultants for the Hayle Harbour Authority engaged with Cornwall Council, Hayle Town Council members, Heritage England, The Cornwall World Heritage Site team and conservation officers.

The idea was to include heritage stakeholders at the design stage to shape the plans.

"The operation of the harbour and the use of fisherman's quay, shaped our thinking – then we looked how the quayside looked in its heyday, and before it closed in 1977," added Mr Williams. "Then we considered how the space could be used, in the most imaginative way possible."

The 2010 outline planning consent for the harbour put forward the economic case for a mixed use development which would include extended commercial space and close to a 1,000 new homes.

The plans being finalised this month include a development brief with an updated plan for North Quay. When the original application was consented, certain details were not finalised at that time, which are now being considered in an application for the first 181 homes and the commercial and employment uses along the quayside.

Once these reserved matters are dealt with it's hoped that the harbour will attract further investment and increase confidence in future development.

Plans will be on display as part of the consultation at the White Hart Hotel on November 17 between 11am and 5.30pm.

Hayle's population was recorded as 9,400 in 2011.

via http://www.cornwalllive.com/plans-for-potential-1-000-home-development-o...