Cornwall Council Greenlights Major Luxury Holiday Development at Millendreath Beach Resort
Cornwall Council has officially approved ambitious plans by Valley Resorts to construct 182 new luxury holiday homes at the Millendreath Beach Resort, located near the popular coastal town of Looe. This significant development, set within a sprawling 90-acre Cornish valley, aims to enhance the region's tourism economy while respecting the site's natural character and ecology.
Comprehensive Development Features and Strict Conditions
The approved scheme encompasses a wide range of facilities designed to attract holidaymakers. Key components include a sea-view restaurant and bar, a leisure building featuring a swimming pool, children's splash park, café, and gym, as well as tennis courts, additional parking, and the restoration and upgrade of an existing lido. The project also incorporates a flood alleviation channel and flood defence sea wall to address environmental concerns.
A critical condition of the approval mandates that all 182 properties must be used exclusively as holiday accommodation. They cannot serve as primary residences for any occupants. To enforce this, the owners and operators are required to maintain an up-to-date register detailing the names and main home addresses of all owners and occupiers, which must be made available to the local planning authority upon request.
Zoned Layout and Environmental Considerations
The development is strategically divided into four distinct zones to blend with the landscape:
- The Woodland Zone: This area will feature 27 units, comprising a mix of three and four-bedroom properties arranged along a winding pathway. At the pathway's end, The Spinney will house an additional seven units, equally split between three and four-bedroom accommodations.
- The Valley Floor: Hosting the bulk of the development, this zone will include 72 units of three and four-bedroom properties, alongside a central facilities building.
- The Hillside: Containing 50 units, this area offers a blend of three and four-bedroom accommodations spread across two tiers.
- The Beachfront: Situated in the southern part of the site, this zone will incorporate 26 units, consisting of one and two-bedroom properties arranged in terraces and stacked two storeys high to form three separate blocks across two tiers.
In a move to minimize environmental impact, all holiday units will be manufactured off-site. This approach reduces on-site construction time and limits building waste, aligning with sustainable practices. The application highlighted that this method allows for precise assembly and a reduced ecological footprint.
Enhanced Amenities and Historical Context
The facilities building will serve as a central hub for the resort, spanning 2,000 square meters. It will include customer support services, a linen store, a pool and spa, a gym and yoga space, various activity rooms, and a café. The beachfront restaurant is designed to provide holidaymakers and passers-by with a pleasant setting to enjoy meals or drinks while taking in stunning coastal views. Equipped with a commercial kitchen, bar area, and roof terrace, it represents a significant upgrade from the current facilities at Millendreath.
Millendreath has a rich history as a popular holiday destination, developing throughout the 1950s and 1960s with features such as a restaurant, cabins, caravans, and recreational facilities. Some properties from that era remain in the eastern valley today. The new development seeks to build on this legacy, integrating with the established appeal of nearby Looe and Seaton while modernizing the resort's offerings.
Parking provisions include 330 new spaces, with disabled spaces incorporated, alongside approximately 80 existing spaces. The planning application, submitted 12 months ago, emphasized the project's goal to boost the local tourism economy while preserving the site's ecological integrity. With this approval, Millendreath Beach Resort is poised to become a premier luxury holiday destination in Cornwall.
