Karl Pearce turns Cornwall dumping ground into six-unit hub

Two acres of Cornwall spent years as a byword for everything that can go wrong with a piece of land. Fly-tipping. Squatters. Cannabis grown under wiring that had been stripped out of the buildings. A council enforcement file that kept getting thicker. Today the same site holds six fully let commercial units and two working yards, and the man who turned it around has just picked up a national award for it.

A site the auction photos didn’t come close to showing

Karl Pearce, founder of Drayton Mere Properties, first came across the site after the previous business on it went into liquidation. “The site was full of fly tipping, people were illegally living there, drugs were being grown on site, wiring had been stripped out and enforcement notices from the council were piling up,” he said. “The auction photos didn’t even begin to show the reality of what was there.”

Losing it once, then getting a second chance

Karl lost the site at auction the first time round. “Months later, I got a call saying the sale had fallen through and asking whether I was still interested. I went to see it in person and honestly, it was chaos. But underneath all of that, I could still see the opportunity.”

Clearing 2,500 tonnes and standing his ground

What followed was one of the toughest projects Karl has taken on. His team removed more than 2,500 tonnes of waste, rebuilt retaining structures, and rewired and replumbed the entire site, all while managing individuals illegally occupying it. “There were threats, intimidation and situations that would have made many developers walk away,” said Karl. “But for me, relationships matter even in difficult situations. I chose to handle things calmly and directly.”

Winning over a frustrated Cornwall Council

That same approach extended to Cornwall Council, which had grown frustrated with the site after years of problems. “By communicating openly and consistently, we managed to build trust,” Karl said. “We worked closely together to resolve every outstanding enforcement issue, and today all those cases have been closed. The relationship has become so positive that the council now wants to work with us on other problematic sites in the area.”

Six units, two yards, and neighbours who can use their gardens again

The site now houses a marketing agency, an estate agency, a caravan company, a boat maintenance firm and a building suppliers, forming a commercial hub in place of what was there before. Neighbouring residents, who previously dealt with bonfires and antisocial behaviour, have thanked Karl personally for the change. “They can finally enjoy their gardens again and feel comfortable in their homes,” he said. “That’s probably the part I’m proudest of.”

From Royal Navy mechanic to Ethical Investor of the Year

Karl is a former Royal Navy operator mechanic who discovered he was dyslexic after joining the Navy. He built the financial platform for his move into property through one of the UK’s largest caravan and motorhome salvage businesses, which he still runs, and he has no formal property qualifications.

The project was funded entirely by private investors, and Karl was recently named Ethical Investor of the Year at the Blue Bricks Awards. He is now expanding further in Cornwall with additional commercial projects, working alongside the council rather than against it.

“My main goal is to help others see that their dreams are possible,” Karl said, “regardless of where they started in life, or how well they did in school.”