The owner of a guest house in Falmouth’s Killigrew Street has been granted permission to turn it into a house of multiple occupancy.

Dawn Emmerson owns both Castleton and the neighbouring Engleton guest houses, but only intends to continue running the latter as bed and breakfast accommodation. A statement which accompanied the application for the change of use said: “There is presently insufficient demand (outside of high season) for two guest houses side-by-side, with business and profit having decreased in recent years.

“Secondly, the applicant has had to move away from the area and cannot, therefore, be on-site on a daily basis to operate such demanding businesses.

Conversely, an HMO would enable the applicant to manage the property from a distance although she does intend to regularly visit the property and be fully contactable by telephone to ensure it remains a respectable and well-maintained property.”

While the application did prompt an objection from a neighbour, Falmouth Town Council’s planning committee had recommended Cornwall Council approve it.

The neighbour had said: “We are already swamped with student accommodation in Falmouth. We have two HMOs already a few doors away from where I live.

The noise from students will cause much upset to local residents and increase parking problems as Castleton has no off street parking.”

Councillors, though, felt there was no good reason to refuse the change of use. Diana Merrett said: “Basically, there is no alternative for this guest house, to be frank, but to rent it out to students.”

Councillor Steve Eva added: “We are what we are and we are a student town now. There are rewards and also punishments that come with that. This is an ideal place for a student property.”

The application has now been granted approval by Cornwall Council under delegated powers.