Plans to make minor alterations which would transform a function room at the Greenbank Hotel in Falmouth have received the backing of town councillors.

The hotel has applied for consent to make the alterations to its boardroom which would include the removal of three small single dormers on the rear of the building overlooking the river, and replacing them with a single dormer with a small inset balcony area.

The architects have said: "At the moment the room does not function well given the small constrained nature of the dormers and lack of natural light entering the room. The headspace between the dormers severely restricts the useable space within the room and the dormers given their very narrow width do little to alleviate the problem.

"The provision of a single dormer dramatically improves the functionality of the room ensuring all the internal floor area could be utilised. The increase in glazing would also significantly increase the amount of natural daylight that would enter the room. Given the position of the proposed dormer on the northern end of the building it is not readily visible from public vantage points other than from the Penryn River or the car park to the north east."

The plans went before Falmouth Town Council's planning committee last week when its chairman Grenville Chappel said: "They are matching the windows below so it is not really changing the character, it is not out of keeping."

Councillor Oliver Cramp added: "Investment in a major business like this in the town is to be welcomed. It will bring in more people so I have no problem supporting this."

The rest of the committee agreed and unanimously recommended Cornwall Council approve the application.