A proposal for a pool house on Burgh Island was approved by SHDC this week.

At the South Hams District Council Development Committee Meeting on Wednesday, March 15, a plan for a hotel suite on Burgh Island that straddles the headland and a stack, the design of which was the culmination of an architectural competition, was narrowly given approval with a vote of four for, three against and three abstentions.

The Development Management Committee were told that Burgh Island doesn’t actually fall within the AONB, something that is thought to be a drafting error, but the beaches surrounding it do, so the AONB was still a consideration.

The AONB themselves recommended refusal of the application on the grounds that it could “harm the landscape” and the council received one letter of support and ten letters of objection.

The South West Design Review Panel, which provides “impartial expert advice to applicants and local authorities on design issues” said that it was a design that “could be celebrated internationally” and white they were “concerned over details”, there was the potential for the project to be of “high architectural standard”.

The DMC discussed the geology and structure of the building and were reassured that coastal erosion should not be a problem during the “reasonable lifetime of the building”.

Peter Cook, a Bigbury-on-Sea resident said “no locals are in favour” of the application, noting the visual impact on the South West Coast Path, noting that none of the photos in the application took into account the downwards view from the coast paths.

He called the building a “concrete carbuncle” and said the “brutal design” was “inappropriate” in a “prominent position”, and would ruin the mermaid pool which the building is proposing to sit above.

Anthony Orchard, owner of the Burgh Island Hotel and the applicant, said they had worked on the project for the last two years and that it was going to be a “world class building” and that himself and his team were “dedicated to quality and detail”.

He argued that Burgh Island was a “built environment” with the hotel and other structures on the island and was close to the “settlement” of Bigbury-on-Sea. He said the setting was “man made” making reference to the mermaid pool and it’s man made dam.

Cllr Robert Vint asked about the possibility of erosion, and Mr Orchard said that the building may even “help erosion” due to the way it would be built, strengthening the headland and the stack together.

Cllr Judy Pearce worried that the “iconic view would be changed forever” and that the building would have “very little protection” from the elements. She asked if the council would be forced, later on, to approve things such as rock armour to protect the building if erosion became an issue.

The officer replied that it would need a planning application if it came to it, and the council would have to make that decision if the situation arose.

Cllr Julian Brazil said he welcomed “21st century structure” and it would be a “benefit to the Burgh Island Hotel”. He said that “your eye is drawn to the white buildings, so the visual impact would be “small”.

He said while its “not everyone’s cup of tea”, it would improve the tourism of the area. He moved for approval of the application. It was approved against officers recommendation.