More housing could be added to Helston's historic Church Street if plans go ahead to convert a closed gallery and art studio.

Owner Michael Rundell has submitted a planning application for Grade II listed properties on Church Street, which include two shops - one of which had until recently been running as arts co-operative Creftow, before it closed last summer. The other has been mainly empty apart from a two-year period when it was rented to second hand clothing shop Scallywags.

Behind these is a redundant warehouse, which is described in the application as being in a "perilous structural condition," with an existing flat above the property next door.

Mr Rundell has applied for listed building consent to build five flats, which would involve the demolition and rebuilding of the warehouse into two flats - one of which would be three-bedroomed and the other one-bedroom - the conversion of the shops into a pair of two-bedroomed flats and refurbishment of the existing flat at 8a Church Street.

It would include taking down large sections of the walls of the warehouse, which currently has asbestos cladding on the second floor and roof.

Residential use of the warehouse was previously agreed in principle in 1994 and the application states that this is still in existence via a certificate of lawfulness.

With regards to the shops, it is stated that: "

The extensive work required to refurbish the shops requires a disproportionate investment due to their listed status. A figure of £40,000 plus VAT has been estimated by a local builder to make the required upgrades to the roof, structure and services to allow the building to be rented.

"As the estimated annual rental for the properties is £8,000 (as quoted by a local agent) it would take more than six years simply to recoup the initial outlay.

"Overall the proposal will ensure that a historic and centrally located property in Helston will be given new life and be preserved for generations to come."

There are no proposed changes to an existing parking area in Brewery Lane, which has four parking spaces tied

to the Church Street properties via a section106 agreement.

The application states that the intention is to sell parking spaces with each of the two and three bedroomed flats, while the one-bed flat will not have parking allocated.

Helston Town Council's planning committee met last week to recommend refusal of the application, due to their opinion that the timber cladding and large window on warehouse building was "not in keeping" with a Grade II listed building and the conservation area and that window would allow overlook to and from the neighbouring buildings, impinging on the privacy of neighbours and future residents of the new flat.

Members also believed there was not enough detail on the economic viability of the shops to justify their loss in a "primary retail area" and that the parking area raised concerns of safe access and exacerbating traffic problems in the area, with a lack of consultation with Cornwall Council's highways department.

The councillors said that should the development proceed, they would like the arch between 6-8 Church Street and 10 Church Street to be reinstated.

A decision is due to be taken by Cornwall Council next month.