A DEVELOPER is battling on in its bid to build a controversial clifftop luxury housing development at Whipsiderry despite three major cliff collapses.

Living Quarter Properties (Porth) Limited has appealed against Cornwall Council’s refusal to discharge condition two of its planning permission to build seven luxury villas on the site of the former Paradise Cove Hotel.

Cornwall Council stated the developer had not managed to provide evidence that the development would be protected from cliff erosion for its 125-year lifespan.

But Living Quarter Properties (Porth) Limited has decided to appeal against the decision as it believes Cornwall Council’s planning department has misunderstood their application.

Paul Forrester from AGS Ground Solutions, on behalf of the developer, in a letter to Cornwall Council planning department stated: “The determination relies partly upon reports issues by AGS Ground Solutions.

“Having read the determination, I do not feel that the reports have been correctly interpreted by the consultee and that this misunderstanding has resulted in a flawed conclusion.

“I fact, in some examples, the conclusion of the consultee appears to be in direct contradiction to the findings of the report.”

Campaigners fighting the plans are “not surprised” the developer has appealed against the planning application refusal.

Leah Steward from Save Whipsiderry Cliffs said: “LQP’s plans were refused because they didn’t provide a detailed schedule of cliff works and maintenance provision.

“The methodology detailed is not informed by a sufficient understanding of the geology and geotechnical conditions.

“The information regarding maintenance focused on inspection and not actual repairs.

“They provided no ecological assessment or mitigations.

“The basis of their appeal appears to be that everyone has made an incorrect interpretation of the data and the reports.

“This is quite clearly not the case.

“The reports submitted for the application to re-discharge condition two were examined by several experts in the field and all came the same conclusion that the submitted reports were not considered suitable to demonstrate a sufficient understanding of the complex geological and geotechnical nature of the site.

“Save Whipsiderry commissioned Steve Parry (CEng, CGeol, FIMMM) of Parry Engineering Geological Services Ltd, an independent consulting engineering geologist with over 40 years experience in geotechnical engineering and specialises in assessment of slope instability, landslide hazard and risk, to review the reports submitted by the appellant.

“He concluded the rock strength testing undertaken was not in accordance with the stated standards.

“The approach adopted in both terms of investigation and analysis suggested limited experience in rock engineering works.

“It has not been demonstrated that the proposed mitigation works would mitigate such failures in future.

“These expert reviews have been submitted to the Planning Inspectorate as part of Save Whipsiderry’s representation to the appeal.

“LQP also failed to provide any consideration to the ecological implications of the cliff stability works and implications for biodiversity, which was reason two for the refusal.

“We fail to see how this appeal can be successful.

“Especially given the most recent fall, leaving the cliffs more unstable than it has been for some time.”

Living Quarter Properties (Porth) Limited has been approached for comment.