Natural England is known to often oppose new building projects but has now objected to its own plan of building an office in a picturesque spot.
The application for a one-storey office building, car park and access road in the Lizard Peninsula, Cornwall, was submitted to Cornwall Council in July.
The body said the new work base would contain ‘facilities for staff and visiting groups, including an office, multifunctional hall, meeting room, kitchen, toilets, car park, pond and connection to the wider landscape’.
Locals often fight plans to build in the area because of its abundant wildlife, white sand beaches, rare plants and flowers.
The body has now sought to block its own development following criticism from locals and even an employee who lives in the area.
Natural England in response to its own proposal said ‘the application could have potential significant effects on the Lizard special area of conservation’.
Bethan Emmett, lead adviser for the Devon,…
