PLANS have been submitted to convert a café bar and holiday accommodation in Newquay town centre into a residential dwelling following a fall in trade.

The owner of Selkies Café Bar in Cheltenham Place proposes a change of use from a commercial café bar on the ground floor with three holiday let bedrooms on the first and second floor to private dwellinghouse.

The applicant said: “Newquay has a wide selection of coffee shops and bars most of which are in a more dominant location.

“Selkies is located up a side of mostly residential house. We have struggled to get passing trade up the hill and through the front door, and holidaymakers tend not to venture off the main road.

“We also have no outdoor space or views so in the summer months customers choose venues which will allow them to enjoy the views and weather.

“Overall hospitality is facing many challenges currently as it has seen a drop in customers as a result of the current economy and I know that many businesses have noticed the same impact.

Chartered architects Artchart on behalf of the applicant, added: “The applicant saw a notable downturn during the summer of 2023 including the bedroom lettings, down 30 per cent, which then became more difficult entering the autumn with increased utility bills, wages and so forth not making it profitable to open.

“The property has been marketed since August 2023 and has been reduced in asking price but there remains no interest. The applicant has therefore decided that the best exit strategy is to sell their existing family home and convert this property into their own residence.

“The proposed change of use will see the property revert to its historic use being that of a private residential terraced house.

“It will have no detrimental impact to the immediate properties or wider context and provide accommodation requirements fit for lifetimes use.”

Newquay Town Council’s planning committee voted to support the planning application.

A town council spokesperson said: “Councillors expressed their regret at the loss of this small business, but accepted the challenges posed by the location and noted that efforts to market the property as a business had so far been unsuccessful.

“Effectively we are saying that they have followed our policies that hope to preserve business use, but the policies are not unreasonable so if they have tried and been unable to market the property as a going concern then we cannot ask for more. 

“I would add that we also thought that as this originally been a private residence, it would be unreasonable on planning grounds to stop them reverting to its original use.”

Cornwall Council is due to have the final say on the scheme.