University bosses have pledged to work with the town council and the community of Falmouth to identify sites suitable for student accommodation and confirmed their support for the Article 4 direction which councillors hope can be implemented immediately.

Anne Carlisle, vice-chancellor of Falmouth University, and Dave Hosken, University of Exeter's dean of strategic development for the Cornwall campuses, addressed a meeting of Falmouth Town Council on Monday night which was attended by around 30 members of the public.

Ms Carlisle focused her presentation on the economic benefits the university brings to the whole of Cornwall, but did acknowledge the concerns local residents have regarding housing. She said by 2018 the first phase of new student accommodation on the Penryn Campus would be completed and that the university is looking to house students further afield in Truro and possibly Helston.

Mr Hosken said: "Falmouth and Penryn have the lowest unemployment in Cornwall and that is partly because the University of Exeter and Falmouth University are here. Exeter wants to be a good citizen and be a good neighbour and have a positive impact on the community.

"We are totally aware of the problems of housing in Falmouth and so are totally supportive of Article 4 and are searching for options of housing outside Falmouth. Exeter accepts there needs to be a sustainable solution for our growth, a solution that does not cause problems for Falmouth and Penryn."

Oliver Lane, accommodation manager for FXPlus which acts for both universities, also tried to alleviate some concerns over where students could be placed in Falmouth and said they would be engaging more with local communities in the coming weeks and months.

He also said that the universities are not supporting plans to build student rooms on the site of the Rosslyn Hotel. "We have made it absolutely clear to all developers and investors that we do not believe it is for us to say whether a site is suitable or not for the development of high density accommodation," he said. "The first step is for council to support a site."

Councillors accepted the universities have brought some benefits to the town, but were keen any further expansion should not be at the detriment to Falmouth. There were calls for a 24 hour call out service to be provided so residents could complain about antisocial behaviour and expect an immediate response; for any new accommodation built to be managed on a full-time basis; for students to face sanctions for repeated unneighbourly behaviour; and for the universities to hold a register of all student accommodation across the town.

There was also a call for Falmouth University in particular to step back from its expansion plans. "The place is booming, but it has got problems that come with it," said Councillor Steve Eva. "If you are serious about working with the town you need to hold back on the numbers and let us digest what we have got. Let us catch up because the infrastructure is not there."

Mr Eva than came in for criticism from Councillor Alan Jewell for being one of two local councillors who had spoken against an Article 4 direction for Falmouth four years ago and has now "back-tracked on that."

Mr Eva claimed the Article 4 or four years ago was "completely different" to what is being sought now, but it was later confirmed by the town clerk that it was effectively the same.

Councillor Candy Atherton has been instrumental in trying to get the restriction on HMOs implemented and is now hoping it can be introduced sooner than had first been anticipated.