Newquay BID Wants Tregunnel Hill Car Park Ruled Out of Care Plan

Newquay needs better care provision. Few people would argue with that. But a proposal to build it on one of the town’s busiest car parks has drawn a firm response from the people who represent local businesses.

Newquay BID Manager Mark Warren has welcomed assurances that Cornwall Council will review alternative sites across the town before pressing ahead with plans to relocate Penberthy Care Home to Tregunnel Hill Car Park. He wants the council to go a step further and rule the car park out altogether.

A review of alternative sites

Mark recently met Newquay Mayor Drew Creek to discuss the proposal. He says the Mayor reassured him that he has challenged Cornwall Council to look at every potential alternative location across the town, including derelict buildings, vacant properties and brownfield sites, before any further decisions are made.

“Whilst I welcome that approach, I believe that from a BID and business perspective, Tregunnel Hill Car Park should be removed from consideration altogether,” he said.

Mark was keen to stress this is not opposition to the care home itself.

“This is not about opposing care provision. Newquay needs better care provision and investment in facilities for local residents. However, I do not believe that should come at the expense of a vital piece of town centre infrastructure when alternative locations are available.”

Why the parking matters

For Newquay BID, the argument comes back to the town’s economy and the spaces that feed it.

“Parking provision is critical to Newquay’s economy. If visitors cannot find a space, many simply choose to go elsewhere,” Mark said. “That has a direct impact on local businesses, jobs and investment, particularly during the peak season when many businesses generate the income they need to survive through the quieter months.”

He also pointed to the way the surrounding area was built. When housing was developed at Tregunnel Hill, the density of that development and the limited on-street parking were accepted because the car park was there to take the pressure. Reduce its capacity, Mark argues, and that pressure lands on nearby residential streets and the local road network instead.

A condition that points to 2032

Mark’s strongest planning argument rests on a decision made four years ago.

In 2022, specialist accommodation pods were approved at the site on a temporary basis. As part of that consent, a condition required the development to be removed and the site restored within ten years, with September 2032 set as the latest return date.

“That condition specifically recognised the future role of Tregunnel Hill Car Park within Newquay’s wider parking strategy and acknowledged the importance of retaining parking capacity for the town in the longer term,” he said.

The same discussions, he added, referenced the need for a permanent park and ride to help offset parking pressures in Newquay. More than two years on, that solution has still not arrived.

“For that reason, I do not believe parking spaces at Tregunnel Hill should be counted multiple times against successive developments without the replacement infrastructure first being delivered. The town has already absorbed parking losses and the mitigation that was expected to accompany them has not arrived.”

A petition headed for County Hall

Newquay BID’s petition against the proposal is still gathering names, and Mark says the response reflects the depth of feeling among businesses and residents alike. Once it has built further support, he intends to hand it directly to Cornwall Council’s Portfolio Holder for Transport and Parking.

“We all want the best outcome for Newquay. That means delivering improved care provision while also protecting the infrastructure that supports our businesses, residents and visitors. I firmly believe both objectives can be achieved if the right site is chosen.”