Porthleven: Residents say they are unable to "enjoy peace" living next to new coffee roastery

A Cornish coffee company has rejected claims of planning breaches from people living near the firm's new roastery.

Neighbours of Origin Coffee's new base in Tolponds, Porthleven say that they are being subjected to smells and noise from the roastery and claim it opened in April without the correct planning permission.

However, the coffee company has responded saying that they consider that the roastery is operating within planning permissions and have said that there are "no issues" with smell or noise.

The Tolponds Residents said:

"Origin Coffee set up its roastery in a valley below a quiet residential neighbourhood in Porthleven with devastating consequences. Residents, living less than 30 meters from the six flues and afterburners installed without planning permission on the roastery, are suffering daily from industrial noise and pungent fumes entering their homes.

"The flues are at the same height as the upstairs windows of some of the family homes meaning that some residents are having to keep their windows shut, even in the intense summer heat."

The residents' group claims that people have been unable to sit outside or enjoy peace during the times that the roastery is operating.

They said:

"On Monday 19th Jul 2021 several families in close proximity to the roastery were unable to open their windows or sit outside on what was one of the hottest days of the year due to the noise and intensity of the odour blowing into their homes."

As a result of their concerns that residents' group has asked Cornwall Council to take enforcement action as they believe that planning conditions have been breached.

The residents claim that the building should have been subject to a change of use planning application to industrial use before it was used by Origin Coffee.

In a statement Origin Coffee said:

"Origin Coffee Roasters is disappointed to note that a small number of local residents have concerns regarding our new development at Tolponds, Porthleven.

"In response to some claims made, we would like to confirm that we are confident that we are operating on a site upon which planning consent exists for the relevant classes of use.

"As a business, we have invested a very significant amount of money and time in our roasting processes and a key part of this is to ensure that there is no detrimental impact upon our neighbours, particularly in terms of smell and emissions.

"We will work with Environmental Health wherever necessary to ensure all valid concerns are mitigated – although the general consensus does seem to be that there are no issues.

"Furthermore there is a planning condition on the consent for noise impact to be mitigated and both Origin and the developer are committed to working with the authorities and our neighbours to ensure this is rigorously followed.

"Origin's new roastery in Porthleven is offering employment and career opportunities to more than 50 people, and since opening in April we have received much support from the local community for which we are very grateful."

The Local Democracy Reporting Service has asked Cornwall Council whether it is investigating any claims of planning breaches. No response has yet been provided.

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