Headland hotel's solar panel bid rejected by councillors due to ‘heritage' concerns

The planning application proposed the construction of 464 photovoltaic panels surrounded by 2m-high fencing, which would have supplied 30% of the hotel's electricity.

Veryan Palmer, director of the family-run hotel, told The Caterer: "This would have been a huge step forward… we've done so many initiatives internally and it would have been a huge investment."

Last year, the hotel decided to turn one of its hot tubs into a cold plunge pool to save energy. It also installed new induction hobs in the restaurant kitchen to improve energy efficiency.

Speaking at The Caterer's Energy Summit in April, Richard Palmer, director of the Headland hotel, revealed the property had been "staring at an 800% rise in our electricity bill" in September 2022, which accelerated a review of its energy use.

At a central sub-committee planning meeting held by Cornwall Council last week (31 July), planning officer Samantha Hewitt recommended that councillors approve the decision to install the solar panels due to the "strong presumption and favour of renewable energy".

However, planning consultant Peter Wonnacott raised an objection on behalf of the nearby residents, stating that the "submitted application plans on the Cornwall Council website did not appear to be accurate" due to potential differences in site measurements.

Concerns were also raised about the "glint and glare assessment" and the lack of a landscape and visual impact assessment (LVIA) submission in the initial application process.

Councillor Joanna Kenney criticised the "possible damage to one of our most iconic coastal vistas", while councillor John Thomas claimed it was a "ludicrous plan … a diabolical application that will ruin our coastline".

Councillor John Fitter added: "This hotel and the surrounding land is held on trust for the nation. It's part of the heritage of Newquay; it is not [for] developers to make a quick buck. While we are all conscious of the climate emergency and address every application to meet the needs of that, we must be careful that we don't destroy the heritage that we have in trying to redress the climate emergency of the future."

Plans were refused unanimously with one abstention.

Council papers later revealed the proposed installation was rejected on the grounds that it "would harm the distinctive character and historic interest of the surrounding area, including the valued landscape at the Towan Headland and the setting of the nearby Grade II-Listed Building, the Headland hotel".

Veryan said: "We are naturally disappointed with this week's judgement on our planning application for solar panels at the Headland.

"Part of our approach at the Headland is to work in ways that incorporate the best environmental practices possible. We remain absolutely committed to finding ways to reduce our carbon footprint as we believe all businesses should be doing."