PLANS to build a housing estate on a derelict builders yard in Newquay have been submitted to Cornwall Council.

A developer proposes to demolish existing vacant buildings including the generator shed and boiler house at the former Jewson’s site at Mount Wise and construct 28 dwellings.

Councillors and residents have been keen to see the buildings preserved within any housing scheme on the site due to their historical significance.

Cornwall Planning Group, on behalf of applicant Acorn Property Group, states an option to convert the generator building into apartments or employment uses was looked into but a feasibility study showed the scheme is not commercially viable because of its dilapidated condition.

The company states the only viable option for the former builder’s yard is to construct houses due to no interest being shown in bringing the site back into commercial use despite a prolonged marketing campaign.

Cornwall Planning Group, in the planning statement, said: “The application site relates to the former Jewson’s Builders Yard located within the urban area of Newquay, where commercial activity ceased in 2006.

“Since that time, the site has remained vacant with no proceedable commercial interest forth coming despite active marketing over lengthy periods by Vickery Holman to bring the site back into an active commercial use.

“Feasibility assessments of the site and assessment of the existing condition of current on-site buildings have confirmed that the only evident viable option to bring the site into an active use is via residential development.

“Such a re-use would respond positively to identified housing crisis in Cornwall.

“The proposals seek full planning permission to demolish the existing vacant buildings and replace them with residential dwellings.

“It is proposed that the site will accommodate 28 dwellings, with a housing mix.

“With regard to the existing buildings and features considered to have heritage value at the site, a feasibility study was conducted to evaluate the potential use of the former generator building to be retained and converted into apartments or an employment uses.

“However, the report concludes that the building is in a dilapidated condition, and it is not possible to safeguard the building in structural and or viability terms.

“Further, the application is accompanied and informed by the Heritage Impact Assessment.

“This explains that this building is redundant and at risk of progressive unrecorded loss in its current state with no viable re-use having been identified during the at least 10 years since the last commercial use of the site.

“The building’s history is not well known locally or regionally and appears in few if any historical or architectural accounts of the town.

“We are advised that potential residential and commercial conversion of the building has been assessed by the current owners and determined not to be commercially viable.

“The building is not listed, but its local interest is acknowledged.

“Further research into, and archival recording of the building has the potential to advance our understanding of the development of the building and its relationship to the modern development of Newquay.

“The Heritage Impact Statement also explains that ‘the site is likely to contain prehistoric to Romano-British remains, potentially of regional significance, based on nearby discoveries.

“There is also potential for remains associated with the 19th century Newquay Lead and Silver Mine.’

“As a consequence, the Heritage Impact Assessment recommends that ‘Should planning permission be granted, a phased programme of archaeological works is recommended, to record and analyse any prehistoric remains.

“An archaeological watching brief is also necessary during groundworks in the northern part of the site where mining remains may be present.”