Plans to extend and revamp a bungalow in Falmouth's Park Hill could encourage other residents to tidy up their homes in what was described as a "overgrown and scruffy" area of the town, according to one councillor.

Leon Whotton has applied for consent to build a first floor extension to the bungalow called Andorra and to create a parking space. The application went before the town council's planning committee last week when Councillor Diana Merrett said: "As long as the finish is to a high specification I don't see why we should turn it down. That area is looking down and out - a lot of those houses up there have not seen paint or render for years.

"I think if someone takes the initiative to start smartening theirs up, then others might say 'let's tidy mine up.' They are overgrown and scruffy."

It is proposed the extension would be timber-framed and clad in natural cedar wood, which did raise some concerns among councillors. Oliver Cramp said: "Wooden planking is completely out of keeping for Falmouth, it just does not fit. I would like to see some kind of render finish - something that is traditional that matches the rest of Falmouth."

Members were also told the application had prompted one letter of objection opposing the change from single storey to two storey and the use of the cedar cladding.

The town planning committee, however, voted by five to two to offer no objection to the proposal claiming it does not unduly harm the character of the building or the area. The final decision lies with Cornwall Council.