Work is expected to start within months on Falmouth’s newest supermarket after the Co-operative’s plans for the former Clipper Way pub at Boslowick were granted approval by Cornwall Council.

Although some neighbouring residents and a local convenience store had objected to the proposals, their concerns were not upheld by council officers particularly as they were not faced with a change of use application as the conversion of a pub to retail does not require planning permission.

The planning application sought permission purely for infill extensions, alterations to the frontage to include a new shopfront, and alterations to the car parking layout which would result in six spaces fronting onto Mongleath Road and 15 spaces to the front of the site.

In explaining her reasons for approving the application, Cornwall Council planning officer Diane Boardman, said: “As this is a permitted change, concerns regarding the loss of the pub, too many |supermarkets in Falmouth and competition with other existing neighbouring shops does not form part of the assessment for this application.

“The main issues are: traffic and highway safety; the scale, siting and design of the alterations and extensions and impact on the amenities of neighbouring occupiers.”

The council’s highway officer had |initially raised concerns about emerging visibility onto Boslowick Road |but there are now no highway |objections after revised plans showing improved |visibility were submitted.

In respect of the design |and scale, Ms Boardman said: “The single storey extension is small in scale and would be in keeping with the character and appearance of the host building.

“The construction of the new shop front and glazing arrangements are |considered to be reasonable and would not detract from the overall appearance of the building. The host building is of 1960s construction and the proposed alterations are considered to be |sympathetic to the design.”

It is felt that the development would not give rise to overlooking or loss of |privacy for neighbouring residents and so would not have a detrimental impact on the amenities of those properties.

The new store will mark the return of the Co-operative to Falmouth following its withdrawal from the town in 2009 when it sold its store at Ponsharden to Sainsbury’s. The new store will create up to 20 new full and part-time jobs and will have a sales area of around 2,000 sq ft. Work is expected to start towards the end of the year with the new supermarket open early 2015.