Despite an objection from the Theatre’s Trust, an application to turn the former HQ of the Falmouth Theatre Company into a family home has been approved.

The new owner of The Old Chapel in Chapel Terrace, Vernon Place has applied to turn the entire property into five-bedroomed family home.

The former chapel had been used as the HQ for the Falmouth Theatre Company for 30 years, but considerable maintenance costs meant that the building was sold.

A previously approved application PA21/00434 for the change of use from chapel to a mixed-use development never went ahead.

Plans submitted for the former chapelPlans submitted for the former chapel (Image: sJAM Architects/Cornwall Council))

The previous application would have seen the existing theatre space on ground floor level kept for community use with the insertion of an additional first floor to allow for an apartment at the top occupying the first floor and rear existing extension.

But the new owners have now been given the go-ahead by Cornwall Council to turn it into a five-bedroom family home despite an objection from Tom Clarke MRTPI National Planning Adviser for the Theatre’s Trust.

He said while they supported the previous application the new proposal would result in the complete loss of a theatre and community facility.

“In this case, the applicant had provided no such evidence or justification to support complete loss of this facility,” he said.

However, the application did have the support of neighbours with one saying: “This is a fine old building in need of TLC and an occupant in residence will give it that.

“We are a thriving community, and we do not need this to be a community building. We have a community space already.”

Writing in a private capacity, David Williams director of a community interest company that represents the local community commented on the application saying most of its members believed it was a mistake to grant community use for the building in a quiet residential area with a severe shortage of parking.

“Any commercial activity in this site would be likely to draw trade from the struggling two pubs in the area which already provide a great deal of community,” he said.