Standing at the heart of Trefresa Farm, the smile on Will Hermann’s face is wide as he explains how he aims to create a boutique resort on the Rock site.

With plans to create a hotel, distillery, outdoor theatre, restaurant and holiday lodges on the site it is nothing other than ambitious.

Will indicates how his plans include incorporating existing buildings into the design whilst building new structures on the footprint of existing facilities.

And while some objectors fear that this quiet corner of North Cornwall could be damaged by such development Will is clear that it is the tranquility of the area which he wants to protect and conserve the most.

South West Farmer:

The plans are to have 24 hotel rooms on the site along with 20 lodges and two treehouses for guests to stay in.

There will also be a restaurant, a spa with fitness and wellbeing facilities and treatment rooms and the aforementioned distillery.

These facilities will also be open to locals – who will be able to take out memberships – as well as visitors.

The plans have come forward after Will and his team previously applied to hold a festival at the site – Porthilly Spirit.

Last year the event was cancelled after Cornwall Council refused to grant a licence and this year the outbreak of Covid-19 saw plans put on hold.

Now Trefresa Farm is set to submit a planning application for the holiday resort and have been holding consultation events with local residents and councillors.

Will said: “We are trying to create something that is sustainable and create year round jobs – we hope to have 85 jobs on site.

“The planning application is set to be submitted in October and we have been doing an awful lot of work with the council to get that right. We have been working with the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) office as well.

“We are extremely aware of the location we are in – that is the magic of the place. The clientele that we are looking to attract here are coming here for the location, for the peace and the tranquility.

“There is no benefit to us making a mini Butlins – that is not what we are about.”

Will hopes to start building work next year with an aim of having it completed by late 2022.

“We want to build it all in one go, we want to make sure that when people come here it is all ready.”

Walking down towards the farm Will explains that before he took over the site it had been neglected and that he had made significant investment to protect and conserve the area including footpaths and crop fields across the site.

South West Farmer:

He said: “What we like about this space is the way that the light shines through the trees and you can hear the waves at Polzeath. We want to keep and preserve that and breathe life back into this farm.”

Under the plans traffic will be kept away from the main site with guests parking away from the area and then being transported in on electric vehicles. The hotel site will be car free.

There are also two footpaths which run through the site which will be retained and maintained – Will said: “There are two footpaths that cross the site – we like them and we want people to be able to walk through and see what we are doing.”

The distillery is currently being operated elsewhere but Will wants to bring it to Trefresa Farm where it will be open for people to come and have tours and see Porthilly Spirit being made.

In addition there are plans for a mezzanine workspace area with 30 networking desks that can be used by local companies.

A hay barn which sits in the centre of the site will become what Will says will be “the beating heart of the development”.

He said: “You will be able to look through it with glass sides that open up and fold back. We will have some music in the evening.”

Walking back through the site he said: “We are extremely excited about this and have put a lot of work into the project.

“We want to show people what we want to do and we want them to be as excited as we are.”