The site of the former FourWinds pub off Dracaena Avenue in Falmouth could become the next area earmarked for blocks of student accommodation.

Pre-application advice is being sought from Cornwall Council planning officers for the proposed project which would involve the demolition of the pub, which closed in January, along with the light industrial units. These would then be replaced with purpose-built student accommodation providing between 120 and 200 minimum, ensuite student bedrooms, a management suite, launderette, ancillary areas and car parking.

ArchitecturePLB have put forward three options for the land, the first of which proposes three "pavilion blocks" of up to three storeys which would each provide studios off a central corridor, and an office/staff building between two of them. This proposal would create 109 rooms, but could cause problems with neighbours.

The statement outlining the schemes says: "The buildings are positioned close to the eastern boundary which may impact on the neighbouring properties. It is recommended that the buildings step down to two storeys closer to this boundary, keeping the scale more in lined with the site context."

Option two, for 124 rooms, proposes two smaller, three storey blocks towards the Grenville Road end of the site, which could take the form of smaller town houses independent from the main, four storey block set back within the site.

The third option shows two, three storey blocks - one housing 38 rooms and the other 100 and the site entrance moved away from the corner of Dracaena Avenue and Grenville Road. It is said: "This option has the benefit of a broken building mass overlooking Dracaena Avenue with good amenity spaces between, creating a potentially pleasant environment.

"Block A faces Grenville Road and this may require some careful architectural treatment to be sympathetic to the general scale of the area."

In summary, the statement concludes: "The purpose of this study is to provide an initial view on the potential capacity of the site. Currently three options have been offered, however, other options could be developed moving forward, these initial layouts are intended to generate discussion. A number of factors will impact on the final design solution and hence capacity of the site."

To see the study in full go to cornwall.gov.uk and search for planning application PA16/01882/PREAPP.