Plans by the man who owns a Cornish harbour to build a restaurant overlooking the water have been slammed by locals as a "vanity project" which is not in keeping with the character of the area and could make the harbour's slipway dangerous.

Trevor Osborne, of Porthleven Harbour and Dock Company, has submitted plans at Cornwall Council to build a new restaurant on the town's harbour head. A similar proposal was withdrawn in March following strong objections from residents. The property developer, who is based in Bath for much of the year, has previously said he has ambitious plans for Porthleven.

A design and heritage report on behalf of the harbour company, written by Chris Strike, of RA Design Ltd, states: "The site currently has a small building which is occupied by the gig club for storage purposes. The proposal will have very little impact on the area as it will be dug into the existing harbour head.

"The gig club were offered an area in the shipyard where they could store the gigs and other equipment if required. The proposal is to dig out the grassed section of the harbour head to create a new restaurant area. The proposal includes the reinstatement of the harbour head. This area will be raised approximately 300mm from the existing grassed area and also be finished with a green roof.

"The appearance and impact this building has on the conservation area is very minimal from all views."

Since the application was validated and appeared on Cornwall Council's planning portal last week there have been 27 public comments concerning the proposal, with only one in support.

The restaurant would be built to the right of the slipway (Pic: RA Design Ltd)

Many of those commenting ask why another restaurant is planned in Porthleven when there are so many other places to eat in the town, citing that one – also owned by Mr Osborne – previously run by celebrity chefs Michael Caines and Rick Stein has closed on the harbour due to the economic downturn. Caines closed his Harbourside Refuge venue for just two weeks ago after three years in business.

Linda Brookes said: "I consider this is a totally unnecessary development within the historic harbour of Porthleven. Out of keeping, unattractive, located close to an already busy road which can be difficult to cross safely and another restaurant nearby closed for nearly 12 months. Nor will it help local unemployment issues – one of the stated problems of the now closed Harbour Refuge was the inability to recruit staff."

Dr Bryony Field added: "I do not see that the proposed application is in keeping with the historic nature of the working harbour in Porthleven. I feel that it is an erosion of public access to public land in the form of the walkway along the harbour head as well as the grassed area on the harbour head. I believe that whilst the works are ongoing to dig out the harbour head to make way for a restaurant, that it will cause great disruption through noise, traffic and works people in what should be a peaceful and fully accessible part of the village.

"Like others have highlighted, I struggle to see that there is need in the village for a further large restaurant when one a stone's throw away is standing empty."

There are also concerns raised about the loss of what many consider a valuable community building. Sally-Anne Martyn wrote on the planning register: "This small 'building' has been used by groups within the village for the last 50+ years and is a valuable asset to the community. There are very few community buildings within the immediate harbour area. To remove one from public use seems counter-intuitive. There are, however, multiple restaurants and food establishments within the area. Some of which have recently ceased trading. Surely one of the unused buildings could be used and this community asset NOT removed?"

"The green space to sit and enjoy the view from the harbour head is already limited by restaurant seating, as is the walkway beneath it," added Jacqueline Scott. "This is the only flat space where locals and visitors alike (people of all ages, disabilities, and people with prams, etc) can enjoy our town if they are not paying for it at a pub or restaurant. Please do not take it away."

Austen Goldsmith, who is a fisherman working out of Porthleven, said: "Using the slipway for the purpose it was built for is already very difficult due to the number of people who use it for sunbathing, drinking, picnics, etc. The additional foot traffic and chaos caused by this proposed building will make the slipway even more dangerous than it already is. The build will cause unbearable chaos in an already overcrowded space.

"The gig club on the water's edge is one of those things that define this village and it needs to be respected and protected, another restaurant built in this location is a toxic and cynical concept that shows zero empathy and respect for the local community and it's heritage of Cornish gig rowing."

Steph White called the proposed restaurant an "unnecessary vanity project". We have contacted the Porthleven Harbour and Dock Company for a response to the public comments.