Cornwall Council has approved amendments to a planning application to build a block of 12 flats in front of Talland House, closely associated with Virginia Woolf.
Talland House. Photograph: Polly Carter
Planning permission for the property was granted originally in 2009. The amendment, submitted to Cornwall Council, makes little change to the original plan, but does add some five feet to the height.
Despite vocal opposition, the council’s planning committee felt their hands were tied because of the approval of the original application.
Richard Gartside, managing director of Windingbrook Developments, said the revised scheme would see “the overall scale and massing of the building would remain broadly the same”.
Work on The Terrace site gets under way in January
Heritage horticulturalist Polly Carter — who is developing the gardens at Talland House with plantings referenced in Woolf’s novels and memoirs — has worked alongside the Virginia Woolf Society of Great Britain to co-ordinate opposition to the Windingbrook scheme.
“Our group raised legal challenge to the lawfulness of the application, and the particular points brought by our counsel remain unaddressed by Cornwall Council’s legal department,” she said on social media. They responded, but not to the particular points raised.
“The situation is not resolved and we refuse to see the matter as closed until the building is up. We are considering opening this up to Judicial Review and are exploring other further options, too.”
She added: “The Talland group is to be formalised and we plan on producing a website and events that celebrate the view and the meanings its embodies. Don’t lose hope. We can continue to challenge this, and celebrate the view together.
“Some time will be taken now to re-imagine and refocus our strategy, but we will issue more guidance as to how you can support the campaign and all that Talland House stands for soon.”
