A pre-application has been submitted for a redevelopment of a former oil depot on Castle Drive, Falmouth.

If granted, six residential units would be built on the site, a new town park and "associated works."

[H3] Submitting a pre application [.H2]

Pre-application advice is provided by planning officers employed by the council, which outlines how they are likely to determine any subsequent planning application, and any changes that are likely to be needed, if any, to give your scheme the best chance of being granted a planning permission.

The application reads:

"Lavigne Lonsdale ( Masterplanners, Architects and Landscape Architects) have been appointed by Castle Drive Developments Ltd to carry out a full detail planning application for a previously developed oil depot site for six residential houses and the creation of a new public park below the Ships and Castle leisure centre.

"The scheme design has been subject to significant liaison with Historic England, Cornwall Council and our heritage consultant and the design team over a three year period.

"The most recent site meeting and dialogue with Historic England

(Helen Woodhouse) and Cornwall Council ( Tim Marsh) in November, 2019 resulted in a very positive response from both Historic England and Cornwall Council."

It would see a landscape scheme that reflects the natural flora of the existing site, to which, there would be re-profiling of the roofs to reflect the hillside (green tops).

The application continues:

"The scheme proposals repair the natural slope of the land by the removal of the underground tanks and the re-profiling of the ground so that it ties into the existing hillside.

"The proposed buildings (units 1-4) are part buried into the hillside to ensure that views from the re-doubt are protected and enhanced.

"The access into the site is at existing ground level and the access road & cars are screened from external views by the frontage levels and retaining walls that create a landscape buffer to the site along Castle Drive."

As part of the scheme, an area of land would be gifted to the Town Council so that the public can enjoy expansive views back across the town and the harbour.

The park access would be off Castle Drive in two locations (one stepped and the other on a slight ramped incline) and includes a path network that integrates the historic world war II trenches.

The path network will enable visitors to gain a series of views out of the site. The path could also extend into land owned by Cornwall Council in the future in order to provide access to the Upton re-doubt, if required. Interpretation signage would also be included.

The application states that advice had been given on the site this week - but did not reveal any final comments.

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