A second attempt to win consent to build student accommodation on the former Ocean Bowl site in Falmouth has failed while developers behind a similar scheme in Fish Strand Hill have taken their fight for permission to appeal.

The scaled down plans for the Ocean Bowl site in Pendennis Rise propose 190 student beds as opposed to the 249 of the original application. They did not though appease neighbouring residents, town councillors or docks' management, who all oppose the scheme and demanded Cornwall Council rejects them.

The scheme has now been rejected by planning officer Mark Ball under delegated powers - but not because of the physical impact it would have on local residents or the area, but because the emerging Falmouth Neighbourhood Plan and Cornwall Council's site allocations document both rule out student accommodation on the site.

Mr Ball says: "Following amendments to the scheme the scale, massing, design and appearance of the development is considered to be appropriate in its context and would provide a well-designed development that would enhance the built environment in this area.

"There are considered to be no material impacts upon nearby residents in terms of overlooking/loss of privacy, overshadowing or overbearing that would be significant enough to warrant refusal. The development during its lifetime would potentially result in adverse impacts upon the amenities of existing nearby residents due to noise and disturbance late at night caused by the activities of residents as they come and go, and this is a factor that weighs against the scheme."

Elsewhere in town, those behind plans for 112 student beds on land off Fish Strand Hill, which were refused under delegation in April, have appealed to the government's Planning Inspectorate in the hope of getting the decision overturned.

The reason for Cornwall Council's refusal was because the site is not allocated for development and granting permission would prejudice the community-led Falmouth neighbourhood plan, which is currently being drafted.

In applicant's case for appeal, it states: "The appeal proposals will deliver several significant material environmental, economic and social benefits and should be approved without delay."

The documents adds: "As set out in the officer’s delegated report on the application, the proposals have been through a rigorous design review and refinement process, which has resulted in a very high quality scheme, which will make a positive contribution to the town centre."

The plans have been rigorously opposed by local residents who now have until September 7 to make representations to the planning inspector, who will determine the appeal by way of written representations. Anyone wishing to comment can do so online by going to https://acp.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/ and searching for case reference 3177902.

In July it was also announced that the company behind plans for 117 student beds on the former Rosslyn Hotel site in Kimberley Park Road was appealing the refusal of its scheme. The deadline for submissions to the Planning Inspector for this case expired last week.