A special meeting was held on Monday to discuss one of the mostcontroversial proposals for Falmouth in recent years.Norwegian businessman Rolf Munding attended the special meeting ofFalmouth town council to put forward his latest proposals for theCoastline Wharf at North Parade.Although primarily held for the benefit of town councillors, 14members of the public attended the meeting to hear the presentation,despite being unable to put forward their views.Mr Munding had previously submitted an application to develop thewharf into a waterfront complex incorporating an exclusive hotel, tworestaurants, a Roman-style stone amphitheatre and arts and craftsoutlets. However, he withdrew the application in July, after he wastold by Carrick district council's planning department that theapplication was likely to be rejected under delegated powers.His revamped proposals, which have not yet been formally submitted asa planning application, were presented to councillors and spectatorsby Mr Munding's old university friend and Eden Project chief executiveTim Smit, who said he was "championing" the project, with the help ofarchitect Jonathan Manser.Mr Smit explained the proposal still contained an open-air 80 to100-seater theatre, which had the possibility of being covered by adome canopy during the winter, and a "very, very high quality" 14-roomhotel with two floors of apartments above it and further apartments
nearby - 45 apartments in total, consisting of one-bedroom,two-bedroom and three-bedroom accommodation.He added that the aim was to made all the one-bedroom apartments belowthe stamp-duty threshold. Mr Smit said there would also be arestaurant and a separate bespoke oyster-restaurant, serving producegathered from the oyster bed Mr Munding intended to restore.Meanwhile, the existing buildings on the wharf would be knocked downin order for 14 units to be built, with first-time businessesencouraged to trade in them."The key is to make it as environmentally friendly as possible. Theconstruction is taking place in such a way that won't put the wharfand any of its inhabitants in jeopardy."I hope you feel it's ambitious and most of all that it could be very,very beautiful and enhance an area that I think would benefit from it.With Rolf, if he's given the chance to do it, it's something I thinkFalmouth will be very proud to have," concluded Mr Smit.Architect Mr Manser added that while there were 45 car-parking spacesin the plans, it was not intended for visitors to park onsite.Instead, Mr Munding had reached an agreement with the leaseholders ofthe Ponsharden park-and-ride car park to take over 100 of the spacesin the car park for use by visitors. He planned for a regular busservice to the complex and also a park-and-float link.In answer to a question by Carrick district councillor John Hambly,who described parking issues in Falmouth as "the big thorn ineverybody's side," he replied: "We will do everything in our power tomake sure people do not park on the road, but it is a public parkingspace. They may do that. But we will do everything we can."Town councillor Dr David Sterratt said: "I don't think it'ssubstantially different to the last application."
Councillor Mike Varney added that he would maintain an open mind untilhe had the full application before him.Penryn mayor Gill Grant, who also attended the presentation as thedevelopment was on Penryn's border, said: "In principle my council isvery supportive. We do have concerns about the traffic issue but Ifeel that the arrangements will probably work."
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