Penryn town council have reluctantly given their support to plans to build seven new student flats on Commercial Road in Falmouth.
At a planning meeting councillors voiced concerns that approval of the plans to develop Merchant House, would open the floodgates to applications for other buildings on the street, which is predominantly for business and commercial properties.
Councillor Ted Wilkes said: “Our policy is that we have got to keep that premises down there for commercial use – for commercial premises and waterside businesses – and I think it will be a big opportunity missed if we don’t stick to our policy.”
The application would see the upper floor of the building, also known as ‘the Warehouse’, converted into seven student flats. The ground floor would be for commercial use. The building dates from around 1850 and is now Grade II listed.
Eventually councillors voted that the scheme be recommended for approval, but stated a preference that the development should not be restricted to student tenants and that the ground floor is to stay a commercial property.
Councillors Wilkes, Gary Mockett and Derek Prynn voted against.
