AN attempt to change the use of a yet to be built garage in a front garden into a holiday let has been refused after strong objections.

The owner of the property in Grovehill Crescent, Falmouth, was originally granted permission to build a garage in the front garden of his home in August 2020.

But he then applied to have it redesignated as a holiday let through a change of use and installing a new window, bi-fold doors in place of the garage door, the addition of new French door and a separate door and window.

But the application drew condemnation from neighbours and Falmouth Town Council planning committee who recommended refusal on the grounds of overdevelopment, traffic and parking concerns and the effect on conservation area as it was out of character and against neighbourhood plan.

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Objecting to the application Falmouth Civic Society said the proposal set a "really bad" precedent.

"To apply for and get planning permission for a largely 'uncontroversial garage' and immediately seek to turn it into residential opens the door to others to try that trick," they said. "The planning conditions were quite clear, that it should be a garage. The proposal also depends on accommodating parking by some on-street parking."

Neighbours also objected to the application saying it was totally totally out of character with the surrounding area and saying parking issues in the road already causes problems for the local bus route, the re-cycling lorries, refuse collection and emergency services.

When it came before Cornwall Council, the planning officer refused the application on the grounds that it would: "Create sub-standard accommodation and would cause unreasonable noise and disturbance and would be unduly harmful to the residential amenities of the occupiers of this neighbouring residence."