CONCERNS have been raised that an application to turn an empty music bar into a restaurant with six bedrooms upstairs could mean they could be changed into an HMO at a later date.

At a meeting of Falmouth Town Council last night an application to convert the empty Mono building at 4 Killigrew Street was considered by councillors.

It is proposed to resume the operation of the ground floor bar and restaurant area as a revived venue and to convert the above ancillary accommodation into a single dwelling for the enjoyment of the owners.

 

The former Mono building has lain empty for three years

The former Mono building has lain empty for three years

 

The previous occupants of the building at 4 Killigrew Street, live music venue, bar and club Mono, closed its doors after three years in February 2018. Before that it was the iconic Nancy's Bar.

But in a report from the Neighbourhood Plan Development committee fears were raised that the six bedroom dwelling was an "HMO [House of Multiple Occupancy] in the making".

Cllr Steve Eva said that you walked past that building and it was a mess and had been a mess for the past three years. He said the conservation area committee had no objection and he had no issue with bringing another building back into use.

"What's in front of us is a restaurant and a single dwelling. It doesn't matter whether they are going to turn it into an HMO we can only go with what's in front of us and I can see absolutely no reason not to pass this."

But Cllr John Spargo said the fact that it's six bedrooms "automatically" means it's an HMO. "That doesn't mean to say it should be refused," he said. "It's just an HMO."

But committee chair Cllr Alan Rowe said because an article 4 direction applied it could not become an HMO, although he said it could be an Air B'n'B although Cllr Spargo pointed out "you can be an HMO if you apply to be an HMO".

Despite the concerns councillors recommended approval for the application.