Cornwall hotel to add luxury retirement village to its grounds

St Mellion Estate Hotel & Golf Resort and its development partner Sequoia Real Estate have unveiled plans to build a luxury retirement village in the resort's 450-acre grounds in response to the challenging hospitality trading environment.

The group has submitted a planning application to Cornwall Council to build a 165-unit retirement village and family leisure complex with a 25-metre swimming pool, children's playground, glamping pods and a golf driving range.

If approved, the facilities will be added to the four-AA-star resort's 80-bedroom hotel, gym, two championship 18-hole golf courses, conference event space, wedding venue and 28 holiday cottages. Work is hoped to start on the project next year, subject to planning.

In April, Sequoia secured planning approval to build 230 holiday lodges, a new wedding venue, kid's club, farm shop and children's adventure golf complex.

Jason Mills, chief executive of resort owner Crown Golf Property, said: "The unprecedented impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on all hospitality businesses underlines the need to evolve and adapt. Our response has been to take steps to make St Mellion attractive to people who are not just golfers, including couples, the family staycation and retirement markets.

"Opening up new revenue streams should remove the seasonality of the current business. Retirement leisure is a rapidly growing sector, and it links well with a full-service four-star hotel offering. But to do this, we must offer a wider range of accommodation options. Subject to planning approval being granted, we expect to start work on this exciting project in the first half of next year."