People could have the chance to live on the water if plans to create a barge home development get the go ahead.

Pre-planning advice has been sought for the plans to build a 29-berth community pontoon which would have barge homes moored on it in Sailors’ Creek, Penryn.

However the plans have attracted opposition from local residents who say the boats look more like “floating London flats” than house boats.

A document detailing the plans sets out that the area is currently in a poor state, highlighting rubbish which has been left there and abandoned vessels in the creek.

It also states that there is poor access to the area and that it is “neglected”.

Under the proposals the development would create new access with a new road and a car park.

It would also create a multi-use pontoon which “unlike a standard marina Sailor’s Creek will have purpose built pontoons with in-built storage, growing spaces, artworks and seagoing spaces. Residents will have their own storage and space to personalise, as well as shared spaces nurturing a close knit community”.

There are also plans for a community barge – “at the junction between the

residential pontoons and public pontoon will be a community barge. The Barge will be multi-purpose tailored to the community need and also as a possible cafe/bar for passing sailors and ramblers.”

The plans also allow for a community park to be provided and electric vehicle charging points.

For the homes the developers have proposed “custom-built” barges with different sized barges and interior specifications. There are also plans for some affordable homes which would be provided through “self-build” barges.

The document states that there would be two-bedroom homes which could be suitable for couples and small families and three bedroom homes which could accommodate up to six people.

In pre-application advice given by Cornwall Council planning officers the applicants are advised to take the plans to the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) unit to see if they would be willing to support them.

However the advice given by the officer states that the proposed development “could potentially be supported”.

Local residents are not so keen and say that the proposals would “overwhelm” Sailors’ Creek.

They said in a statement: “While we are certainly not opposed to  live-aboards, the proposal as it stands would overwhelm Sailors creek with 30 large barges, that look more like floating modern London flats than boats. The quantity and uniformity of the barges crammed into what is a beautiful creek full of herons and wildlife, seems more focused on producing as much profit as possible than providing safe, environmentally-friendly moorings for live-aboard residents. We are concerned that the majority of the barges would be sold off as holiday or second homes, despite some of them purportedly being designed for low-income families.”

They added: “Sailors Creek is in need of being cleaned up as it has been left to deteriorate with some abandoned boats on it, but to turn the creek into an unusable space for existing boats, with floating luxury flats that would dominate the landscape seems a tragedy and should not be allowed to go ahead.”