A planning application for five flats on land next to The Square in Penryn has been withdrawn after planning officers said it would represent "overdevelopment" in the town's conservation area.

In email discussions between planning officer Martin Woodley and planning agent Steve Paine, Mr Woodley said the council had issues with the scale, form, height and massing of the building on a highly visible site, along with issues of poor outlook for future residents and "a general overbearing impact and erosion of character in terms of the relationship to the listed plot walls."

He added that there were also car parking issues, but that the council might consider permission for a "much reduced mews type scheme" of one or two storeys.

The agent agreed to withdraw the outline planning application, for a four storey townhouse style building of up to five apartments, before resubmitting new plans.

Last month Penryn Town Council raised no objections to the principle of development on the site, but objected to the plans due to access and parking concerns, and noted that the indicative design would be inappropriate for the conservation area.