A planning application to build 38 homes on land at a golf and country club which was devastated by fire is being debated by councillors today.

Outline plans have been submitted to Cornwall Council by Kingsley Developments to build the permanent homes at Carvynick Golf and Country Club at Summercourt.

The plans come after a major fire at the park in December 2017 which destroyed the site’s main centre which included leisure facilities.

Planning officers have recommended that the plans are approved but only if a condition is attached to say that the homes can only be for holiday use.

The application is set to go before the council’s central sub-area planning committee when it meets today.

As well as the homes the applicants are also seeking permission for a leisure building which would have a gym and sports hall.

The report going to councillors states that the applicants want to use the properties as holiday homes but do not want to have any restrictions placed on them.

In their report planning officers state: “The applicant states that this development / investment will not take place as it will be economically unviable unless the holiday condition is not imposed.

"The submission provides that without the holiday occupancy condition the units can be sold at a higher open market value and without the impact of VAT and this will generate sufficient profitability to enable the development and enhancement of the site to proceed.”

But they add: “Whilst deliverability is an issue that could be afforded some weight, the avoidance of VAT is not a material planning matter.”

The report adds that if the committee decided to approve planning permission without any conditions then the council “will have very limited control over the site in the future if the applicants decide they no longer wish to operate as a holiday site the units would be unfettered residential units that can be sold off individually”.

More than 100 letters of support have been sent to the council with many highlighting the benefits of the leisure facilities for the local community.

The application is for outline planning permission with all other matters, including access, layout, appearance and landscaping, reserved to be determined at a later date.

The central sub-area planning committee is due to meet at 10am in St Austell.