The developer of the former home of the Falmouth Theatre Company will have to resubmit a whole new planning application if he wants to make internal changes to its approved renovation plans.
Plans to turn the former Methodist Chapel and HQ of Falmouth Theatre Company in Chapel Terrace into a flat and community space were given the green light in April.
However the applicant Mr Wajahat Choudry has now come back with an application to withdraw from having to comply with condition 2 relating to amendments to the approved scheme.
Members of Falmouth Town Council’s planning committee were told on Monday that he wants to extend the rear internal space into the back. The changes would be all internal.
However the neighbourhood plan comments said there was not enough information or plans for it to be approved.
Backing the NDP comments Cllr Debra Clegg said: “The local development plan comments are spot on. You can’t tell what it is you’re looking at. All you can do is go by the comments from neighbours, that it appears to be a big excavation and condition 2 is just the previous application so you can’t see it.
"So they are asking us to approve something we can’t see."
Steve Eva proposed that the developer put in new plans for the application and see where it goes and if it is declined they have the previous proposal to fall back on.
“This was one of those applications where they say you have already supported this so they expect you to support a new application," he said.
“If they want to submit new plans then so be it, but I cannot support this.”
Councillors voted to recommend refusal of the application due to insufficient information.
The building was the base for the Falmouth Theatre Theatre Company for 30 years before rising maintenance costs meant it had to be sold.
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The plans are for a two-bedroomed apartment built in a new roof space to finance the project.
Underneath will be a community space with a new accessible WC and changing facility and kitchen which can cater for public functions.
The main hall would host theatre groups and be flexible to cater for other community groups in the area.
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