The plans for a 135 bed student accommodation development on the former Coachworks site in Falmouth's Penwerris Lane have now been registered with Cornwall Council and have already prompted a couple objections.

AGR Living Falmouth Ltd is behind the scheme and before lodging the application, company representatives held a consultation day at the Dracaena Centre where local residents could view the plans, make suggestions and offer their support or opposition.

Many residents living in Meadowbank Road and Penwerris Lane raised concerns that, as the proposals have no car parking provision, the development would lead to more cars and traffic which would block the lane and could lead to accidents. They were also fearful that the new accommodation would create antisocial behaviour, that the top flats would overlook existing housing and spoil the look and character of the area.

The plans propose the demolition of the existing workshops and the creation of the 135 student beds housed in three blocks, up to six storeys high and positioned around a courtyard. In addition to the accommodation, there would be a student common room, laundry and management office.

Grainge Architects have said: "The majority of the building mass will be contained within the quarry and where the new buildings protrude above the surrounding ground line, the buildings will be of equal or less height than the immediate surrounding neighbours to ensure the overall streetscape is maintained.

"No on-site parking for students is proposed and all tenancy agreements will specifically prohibit tenants from bringing cars to university. The development is well serviced by public transport routes with bus transport to the Penryn campus readily available. On-site secure cycle storage will be provided to encourage sustainable forms of transport within the more immediate surroundings.

"The proposed development will help alleviate pressure on the existing housing stock within the area by providing much needed purpose built student accommodation, freeing up domestic properties for local people."

Falmouth Civic Society has already lodged its objection with Cornwall Council saying: "It would be hard to find a more inappropriate site for a student development, set in the heart of a quiet residential area."

It adds: "The proposed development is out of scale and character of the area. The reason given for its size and density is because of financial viability. This is not a good planning reason, but one of speculative risk, the cost of which should be borne by the developer, and not the local community with an inappropriate use, and one the community clear do not support."

The planning application is expected to go before Falmouth Town Council's planning committee on Monday, March 13. It can be viewed in full, and comments can be made, by going to cornwall.gov.uk and searching for planning application PA17/01167.