REDEVELOPMENT of Hayle Harbour could be set to change as the site is transferred to new ownership.

Corinthian Land confirmed purchase of the harbour as Dutch firm ING sold off the last of its assets in Hayle.

The Kent-based land management company now controls most of the harbour area, excluding the central section of South Quay, which includes the transfer of outline planning permission for 870 homes.

Simon Wright, from Corinthian, said there was room for commercial and tourism growth in the harbour but it was too early to comment on detailed plans.

"We need everybody's input on what is best for Hayle," said Mr Wright.

"The lifeblood of the town is the harbour and that needs to be vibrant.

"The harbour is there for the local people. We are going to be looking at investments in different shapes and sizes.

"We don't want to take away the character and history of Hayle but we also need to bring investment in."

Asda supermarket was the first phase of development of ING's plans along with repairing the quay wall. Peveril Securities, which owns South Quay and Foundry Yard, maintains responsibility for repairing the sluice gates and creating the bridge across Penpol Creek before those areas come under new ownership.

Work is also underway on the £24 million Marine Renewables Business Park on North Quay.

Several section 106 agreements attached to the planning permission will also pass to the new owners should they continue with ING's scheme.

Mr Wright said: "We are here for the long term. We're looking to see the whole thing through. We'd look to develop some of it ourselves. We have to make a profit but it is not at the expense of everything."

A consultation which could pass some harbour assets to the ownership of a local community group will still go ahead.

A meeting of Hayle Town Council, last week, heard the new owner had already held talks with several harbour users and offered to help pay the final instalment for a new fishermen's pontoon on East Quay.

Harbour master Peter Haddock said: "The positive approach by the new owners regarding investment to improve the harbour and its facilities alongside their planned development is most encouraging."

John Bennett, chairman of Hayle Harbour Advisory Committee, said: "We think it was a very good start.

"Clearly there are a lot of details to be worked on.

"First they have to decide what they want to do.

"They have to get from outline planning to full planning; that process itself can take 46 weeks. It is hard to see anything happening really quickly."