Plans to get rid of poor quality living quarters at RNAS Culdrose, the closure of another high street bank and the creation of what could be Cornwall’s first zero carbon office block are among the latest planning applications submitted to Cornwall Council.

Every week more than 100 applications are validated by Cornwall Council and we have selected some of the more interesting proposals. All planning applications submitted to the council have to be validated and are available for inspection by the public. Anyone is also allowed to submit comments about the applications – whether in support or objection.

The majority of applications are decided by planning officers at the council under delegated powers. However, some applications will go before elected councillors who sit on planning committees. No dates have been set for when the planning applications below will be determined. They can be viewed by going to the planning portal on Cornwall Council’s website.

A global design and engineering business has been appointed to undertake an environmental impact assessment for a huge refurbishment of the living accommodation at RNAS Culdrose, near Helston, in a bid to improve “poor quality” living conditions at the Royal Navy base.

The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) is proposing to refurbish the existing poor quality living accommodation to provide high quality living accommodation for all ranks of personnel and as such this development forms an essential requirement for ongoing military operational needs.

The redevelopment works will, if approved, provide a total of 157 new bed spaces and will result in an overall reduction of 51 beds through the demolition of out of use and condemned accommodation buildings within the site.

Supporting buildings containing offices, accommodation stores and a briefing facility will also be built as well as catering and mess facilities.

A planning report says: “The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has recognised that large parts of its estate are in poor condition and is committed to addressing substandard accommodation as a priority. Substandard accommodation has a negative effect on the retention of service personnel and is damaging to the reputation of the various Armed Forces.

“The proposed scheme provides much-needed, high quality living accommodation for all ranks of personnel and as such this development forms an essential requirement for ongoing military operational needs both at RNAS Culdrose and within the wider defence organisation.”

The proposed scheme comprises a three-storey building containing 127 junior officer and 30 senior officer cabins; a two-storey combined mess and catering facility; two-storey offices, stores and briefing facility. Buildings to be demolished include a six-storey condemned building providing 189 beds, known as Boscawen, a two-storey wardroom featuring 19 beds, a two-storey dining hall and kitchen, a two-storey senior ratings’ mess, a three-storey building which houses Culdrose’s current briefing facility and a number of others.

The proposed scheme will result in the loss of up to 174 car parking spaces but will provide a total of 130 new spaces. Construction is expected to start in February 2027 and be complete by April 2029 if approved.

Cornwall Council’s planning department has received an application to decommission a branch of Barclays bank at The Strand, Bude, which will close on September 29. The building is not listed but is situated within a conservation area. The proposed work at the three-storey property is for the removal of existing external signs, branding, an external ATM and other works. All existing original features will not be affected by the proposed works.

New homes in Par and St Austell: Separate applications have been received for an affordable-led residential development of up to five dwellings on land at St Andrews Road, Par, formally associated with Hendra Court Nursing Care Home but which is now under separate ownership, and five dwellings with garages and a new access road on land south-west of Avonwynn View, St Austell.

Change of use from guesthouse to supported living accommodation, Tywardreath: Proposals have been submitted for the change of use from a guesthouse to supported living accommodation at Elmswood House, Tehidy Road, Tywardreath, near Par. The building would house six adults with learning difficulties and /or on the autism spectrum with ancillary staff facilities.

All clients would receive a package of care from The Brandon Trust. A report to planners states: “There is an evidenced demand for supported-living accommodation within Cornwall and Elmswood House has been identified as a property suitable to meet such requirements.”

The applicant, Pivotal Homes Group, is a registered social housing provider “which has built its reputation as a quality service provider on strong, positive partnering relationships and the provision of well-chosen, well-maintained properties in appropriate locations. To date, the applicant has provided high quality supported-living accommodation to over 450 vulnerable people with a variety of specialist needs”.

Amended plans have been submitted for what could be Cornwall’s first zero-carbon office building and would definitely be the first of its kind in Truro.

Verto Homes wants to build three-storey offices on land at Pydar Mews to the rear of Pydar Street, with a private car park accessed via The Leats. A planning statement says: “The proposed development will provide the first truly zero carbon office building within the city and to the best of the applicant’s knowledge within the county.”

Plans have been submitted for the continued use of land as a private Gypsy site consisting of five pitches including five mobile homes, five touring caravans, five utility buildings and associated works on land east of Trago Farm, East Taphouse, near Liskeard.

Montagu Town Planning Ltd, in conjunction with CJ Morford Ltd Architectural and Design Services, has lodged plans on behalf of the applicant, Mr S Ayres, who owns the site, where he lives with his Romani Gypsy family.

A planning statement says: “It is a point of common ground that there is an identified need for the provision of additional Gypsy/traveller sites in Cornwall. The lack of additional Gypsy/traveller sites in Cornwall is something that should be given considerable weight in the determination of this application.

“The applicant and members of their family are Gypsies, and their occupation of the site complies with the statutory definition of a Gypsy/traveller as set out in Annex 1 to Planning Policy for Traveller Sites (PPTS) August 2015. The applicant and their family moved onto the site earlier on this year due to the fact that they were unable to find any pitches to accommodate them at the existing Gypsy site at St Ive Road, Pensilva. The applicants have long-standing and historic ties with the Gypsy community in the area.”

The St Moritz Hotel at Trebetherick, near Rock, has applied for a ground-floor extension to its existing leisure building for an external plunge pool and a first-floor yoga studio extension with an ancillary site.

The design is considered to be a contemporary version of the hotel’s art deco style, incorporating horizontal timber cladding and large windows.

A design statement says: “The development will improve the amenity for clients of the hotel and of neighbouring properties, which in turn will bring benefit to the local economy. This scheme seeks to retain and improve the existing leisure facilities rather than redevelop as per a previous approval and is therefore considered to be a more sustainable proposal. It is a well-considered scheme of a contemporary design utilising traditional materials and is sensitive to its immediate context and addresses the various issues with the site and will be a positive enhancement to St Moritz hotel and the surrounding area.”

The Methodist church at Goonpiper, Feock, near Truro, became surplus to requirement when the congregation from Feock combined with the congregation in Carnon Downs, sharing premises in Carnon Downs. The Goonpiper church became redundant as a place of worship and put up for sale on the open market.

It was purchased by Mr and Mrs Aldemir in April 2023 with the desire to convert it into a residential dwelling. The purpose of this application is to establish the principle of the change of use from church to residential dwelling. If this permission is granted, a planning application will be prepared illustrating the detailed design and conversion details.