A DEVELOPER’S latest bid to build a controversial clifftop luxury housing development at Whipsiderry has received opposition.

Newquay Town Council and Save Whipsiderry Cliffs have opposed Living Quarter Properties (Porth) Limited’s appeal 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 (LQP) has decided to appeal against the decision as it believes Cornwall Council’s planning department has misunderstood their application.

The town council and Save Whipsiderry have questioned the findings of AGS Ground Solutions, which the developer commissioned to undertake a ground stability appraisal as part of the application.

AGS Solutions report concluded the major landslips have occurred since cliff stabilisation works started has “provided benefits to the cliff’s stability.”

The company added rock bolting and meshing with a “regular maintenance and renewal regime” would provide sufficient stabilisation to reduce erosion to an acceptable level to provide protection to the proposed development for at least 125 years.

Newquay Town Council’s planning committee said: “The Marine Management Organisation have been unable to exclude the risk that there is a causal link between the rockfalls and the licensed activity.

“To protect the environment and human health from further rockfalls, we consider it is necessary to prevent the licensed activity from continuing.

“We note the executive summary of the original AGS slope stability report states that “the landslip has provided benefits to the cliff’s stability”.

“This is a conclusion we would strongly challenge. The scree slope created by this collapse provides new material that will increase erosion, through attrition driven by wave action, at the base of the cliff.

“It seems unlikely that any rock bolting and netting could withstand a fall of the likely magnitude in this area.

“Further, the report suggests that “The cliff profile had altered significantly since the previous visit, with the base of the cliff now protected by the fallen material, including the substantial boulders, forming a debris pile around 12 m in height, at an angle of repose of around 35°. The upper cliff section remained at around 70 to 90 degrees.

“This debris is purely temporary; wave action removes it.

“Further, their additional comments do not provide any reassurance that the proposals would prevent significant falls from cliffs that have become unstable and, sadly, will continue to be so into the future.”

Save Whipsiderry Cliffs added: “In April 2025, Save Whipsiderry commissioned Steve Parry of Parry Engineering Geological Services to prepare an expert review for the appeal to the Planning Inspectorate.

“The expert opinion of Mr Parry is that the proposed scheme is not considered appropriate to address future global instability of the cliff.

“If works are permitted to commence, then it is highly likely that further catastrophic falls will follow. Once again shortening the lifespan of the B3276 road.

“In summary we ask that the appeal is refused.”