A long-awaited plan to build a distillery attraction in the historic grounds of Bodmin Jail has moved a step closer after Cornwall Council approved the planning application.
In its application, Bodmin Jail told Cornwall Council: “The development seeks to: secure the long-term viable use and conservation of the Grade II listed Chaplaincy and Governor’s House, together with associated heritage assets including the listed boundary wall.
“The distillery has been conceived as an integrated component of the wider Bodmin Jail visitor experience, rather than a standalone attraction. Visitors will utilise the existing established parking and arrival points associated with the Bodmin Jail complex, progressing through a clear and legible sequence of spaces that connect the hotel, visitor experience and distillery offer.
“The proposed use of the Chaplaincy and Governor’s House has been carefully arranged to support both the operational requirements of the distillery and the long-term viable use of the buildings. The ground floor will form part of the visitor experience, accommodating interpretation, tasting and associated public-facing functions, while the upper floors will be brought into residential use.
“These units are intended primarily to support staff associated with the immediate and wider Bodmin Jail site, providing on-site accommodation that assists in the effective management and operation of the attraction. This arrangement ensures active and sustainable use throughout the buildings, while retaining their overall form, character and significance.
“Within the distillery, the internal arrangement is structured to enable views of the production process from designated visitor areas, including a viewing gallery and tasting space. This approach supports the operational requirements of the distillery while providing an accessible and educational visitor experience, consistent with the wider function of the Bodmin Jail complex.”
In the report detailing the reasons for approving the application, Cornwall Council’s planning officers said that the public benefits of the scheme outweighed any negatives.
First, they concluded that it will result in ‘less than substantial harm’ to the heritage assets on the site, stating: “This application will result in less than substantial harm to the heritage assets on the site and their settings by reasons of introducing a significant built structure within the grounds of the Governors House and Chaplaincy and through loss of historic fabric both including change to the internal plan form of the existing buildings and loss/intervention to the existing internal and external boundary walls. Additionally, more people and associated paraphernalia and chattels would be introduced to the site.”
Bodmin Town Council said it supported the application, while there had been five objections from members of the public. Among the concerns stated was a fear that it could cause neighbouring properties to lose value, while another raised concerns about the level of deliveries to the site and the location of the attenuation tank.
An earlier objection by the Environment Agency was withdrawn after the submission of a revised flood risk assessment and water drainage strategy.
It was approved subject to a significant number of conditions, which can be viewed using PA26/02013 on the Cornwall Council planning portal.
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Cornwall Council Approves Distillery Plan for Bodmin Jail