New plans have been submitted to build 329 rooms of student accommodation on an industrial estate in Penryn.

The outline planning application has been made by the John Lewis Partnership Pension Trust which has previously had plans to build 392 student rooms on the site at Kernick Industrial Estate.

Under the new proposals the height of the proposed buildings has been reduced from 7/8 storeys to 5/6 storeys, cutting the number of rooms which could be provided.

The John Lewis Partnership Pension Trust had previously been told that it should work together with developer Studytel which is set to build 600 rooms of student accommodation on a site known as Century House.

It had previously been said that the overall number of rooms should be cut to around 550 across both sites.

A design and access statement submitted as part of the new outline application said that the height of the proposed building has been designed to be in scale with the nearby Studytel development which has planning permission.

The statement says that the plans had been drawn up after consultation with Cornwall Council, Falmouth and Exeter universities, Studytel, the Cornwall design panel and local residents and businesses.

It states that the plans are in support the forecast growth in the number of students to up to 2,400 over the next five years.

The statement adds: “This proposal reflects the University Strategic Residential Brief for student residencies adjacent to campus sites, to provide accommodation for first year students and those second year students that wish to co-locate with their place of study. The student accommodation is therefore arranged in 6 to 8 bed cluster flats. The configuration of these apartments promote a model for social cohesion and a prototype for student housing that is generally regarded as the best solution for students in their first year of living away from a home environment. This ethos is supported by the University and is reflected in the building form and facilities.”

Under the plans there would be 329 bedrooms for students split between two buildings along with a student hub which would have a reception, staff office, post room and launderette. There would be a central courtyard between the buildings which would be a “high quality space” for “amenity and social gathering”.

The proposals also include a two-storey light industrial building which would provide employment space.

Pathways would link the student accommodation directly to the Penryn university campus.

The outline planning application was validated by the council last week and no date has been set for when a decision might be made.