The original 1990 planning permission for redevelopment into 500 homes was at first not realised, the main obstacle being the need for better sea defences. In July 2011,
Cornwall Council approved a new planning application for 500 luxury apartments and associated facilities. The private developers (originally Ampersand now called Commercial Estates Group [CEG]) were planning to begin work on the new sea defences in late 2011 and on the apartments in spring 2012. However, plans were put on hold in December 2012 and construction had not started by August 2014. There has been a lot of local opposition to the developers. One point of contention is two public rights of way through the site. At a public enquiry in June 2014 Cornwall Council recognised the existence of the rights of way, CEG has exercised its right to appeal and decision now rests with the Secretary of State. Another point of contention has been the sea defences. The original 1990 plans proposed a large sea wall. Following local protests a public inquiry was held in 2006 which rejected the plans. A revised scheme was accepted in 2011 but construction has not yet started. Temporary sheet piling defences were installed in the early 2000s without planning permission, the developers were asked to remove them in 2008 but they have remained until 2014. A planning application for temporary defences was rejected in November 2013 and in May 2014 Cornwall Council resolved to take enforcement action for the removal of the temporary wall. Permission was granted in 2015 for a new housing & leisure development. ==Geography and geology==