Green light for St Mellion redevelopment plan

Crown Golf, the largest golf operator in Europe with 32 golf and leisure facilities in the UK, was finally given the green light in early February 2008 to redevelop St Mellion International Resort. The proposal, which was given outline planning permission last year, includes a new 80-bedroom hotel, 265 fairway side homes, a refurbished clubhouse and a re-configured course.

The aim of Crown Golf – after purchasing the property in 2005 – is to bring back major international golf tournaments to the club and they have obtained written commitment from the PGA European Tour to host the English Open at St Mellion for five years from 2009 on the condition that significant improvements take place.

The project was delayed for months in order to protect a colony of rare, brown long-eared bats. We understand ecologists installed bat boxes around the property to lure them out of the old buildings that are earmarked for redevelopment.