Falmouth Town Council's planning committee has recommended refusal of planning permission for a ten bed house of multiple occupancy (HMO) behind St George's Arcade in the town centre.

The applicant had resubmitted plans which had been granted approval in 2011, and subsequently lapsed, to demolish the shell of an old building and build a new block with access off Fish Strand Hill and Smithick Hill.

Sarah Jones, whose property is next to the site, was at a meeting of the planning committee to raise several objections to the proposal.

These included the fact that the demolition would affect the safety of two walls in the courtyard, one of which is over 100 years old, and that developers hadn't addressed access to the site which would require going through her property.

Ms Jones also told councillors: "I am concerned about the increase in noise levels this HMO would create. I already have to tolerate unacceptably high noise levels on Thursday nights and at weekends and this development would greatly add to this disturbance, affecting me and other local residents all the time."

She also raised concerns that the development would put additional strain on parking on nearby streets, as well as on other infrastructure, and pointed out that the council's own emerging Neighbourhood Plan effectively prohibits the construction of HMOs in the town centre.

Councillor Steve Eva said that since the appearance of plans to build a new student village at Treluswell, the university had said "they don't want any more student accommodation in town."

Councillor Candy Atherton added: "I see no reason why we would support this," and cited plans for the student village, along with the emerging neighbourhood plan and new anti-HMO policy as reasons to turn it down.

The council voted to recommend refusal of the proposal, which has planning reference PA17/03907, and is now due to come before Cornwall Council for a final planning decision.