PLANS to knock down a waterfront hotel in Cawsand and build a new restaurant and residential units have been withdrawn in the face of strong criticism.

Cawsand Bay Hotel owner Chris Parsonage says he still intends to redevelop the site, but will be having a rethink over the size and design of the scheme.

A 371-signature petition was submitted to Cornwall Council last week against the original proposal for 10 residential dwellings, licenced restaurant and new car park. Objections to the project had also come from the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) unit and Historic England.

Maker with Rame Parish Council members had unanimously voted to recommend the scheme as it stood for refusal. The council said that while it felt some change was necessary at the site, that the proposal 'did not reflect the locally distinctive character or traditional building styles.'

The Cawsand Bay Hotel, purchased by Mr Parsonage eight years ago, has been closed since last year. Mr Parsonage said that accusations that he had 'deliberately run the hotel down' were completely untrue.

'The hotel was closed last year because it was not viable to keep it open, for health and safety reasons,' he said.

'We don't run things down. We refurbished the Halfway House, the locals were worried about that beforehand, but now it's a lovely place to go and eat.'

Mr Parsonage, who grew up in Cawsand, said that he planned to invest around £2.5m into the new development, and that 15-20 jobs would be created in the new restaurant, which he said matched the number of staff employed in the hotel and bar previously.

He added that with 'so many additional bed and breakfasts and holiday homes now in the village', it was not viable to run a 10-bedroomed hotel.

'People don't like to see change, but things have to change and move forward,' he said.

'There have been a lot of objections and we have taken that on board. We're discussing again with planning officers and the AONB, and we will resubmit.'