Bid to change care homes in Cornwall plan at Bosvale in Falmouth

Outline planning permission for the 'extra care' dwellings was granted back in November 2016, after it went to appeal, before reserved matters on the layout were then agreed in February last year.

Both applications also included a new community centre for use by Bosvale Community Association.

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Now, however, agents have asked planning officers at Cornwall Council for pre-application advice about the potential to change some elements, which would include keeping the existing centre and removing the agreed new centre within the main building.

Other proposed changes include altering the mix of units to increase the number of one-bed units from the 23 approved to 55, and as a result reduce the number of two-bed units from the 46 agreed to only 14.

Internally it is proposed to reduce the amount of communal floor space, although there would be large areas of the upper ground floor that would remain in use as a communal lounge, dining room/servery, hair/treatment room and office accommodation as well as smaller areas at lower ground floor.

There is also a suggestion to reduce the overall internal area of the building, and of the 69 units it said that 100% of the units were likely to be designated as affordable housing, made up of 80% as affordable rented and 20% as shared ownership.

The proposed site plan Picture: Quattro Design Architects/Cornwall Council

In her advice, case officer Laura Potts said that in relation to keeping the existing community centre a deed of modification would need to be applied for and it would be up to the views of Cornwall councillors whether this was a 'non-material amendment' (NMA) or a significant change.

She noted that while the Planning Inspector did not give weight to the replacement of the community centre when deciding on the appeal, she pointed out that " the community are expecting a new building and this could be a reason that a NMA may fail."

She went on to add: "The key question will be whether the community would be disadvantaged by the improvement of the existing community centre, rather than a new centre.

Bosvale Community Centre pictured in 2015

"I think there is some merit for the community in having a separate building and parking facilities."

Ms Potts also noted that since the previous application Falmouth's Neighbourhood Plan had been adopted and its policies now carried "significant weight."

She advised consulting with Falmouth Town Council, local member Alan Jewell – who is also chairman of the area's planning committee at Cornwall Council – and local residents who are both neighbours of the centre and those that use it.

At this stage the application is for advice, rather than a formal request to make the changes. Full details can be found on the Cornwall Council website under application PA21/02208/PREAPP