Residents fighting plans to build student accommodation on the Ocean Bowl site in Falmouth, have won the support of town councillors, but are facing opposition from the county case officer who is recommending the scheme is approved next week.

The proposals to create 249 student beds on the site in Pendennis Rise were the subject of a public meeting earlier this month when around 80 people turned out to voice their objections. On Monday night it was the turn of Falmouth Town Council's planning committee to have their say.

Councillors heard that the developers had made some amendments to the proposals following concerns raised by Cornwall Council officers and objections from Historic England. These changes aim to reduce its scale, mass and height.

They also heard from local residents and from docks owners A&P Falmouth who claim the development would impact on the future growth and development of the dockyard.

Cllr Steve Eva said: "Nobody has listened. We told them (the developers) we didn't want this and didn't want that and not only have they come back with 249 flats, they have come back with a gym, a cinema and a cafe restaurant. It's overdevelopment on a massive, massive scale and not what we need in Falmouth.

"There are places in Falmouth where you could build student accommodation, but nothing of this scale. It is not in keeping with the area and is not good use of the land. It is commercial land that is needed for commercial reasons and they are trying to change it to residential - that alone should not get passed at Cornwall Council."

Cllr Steve Gray added: "It is not part of the Port Masterplan to develop that area and nothing has changed with regard to that. This is totally unneighbourly. It pays no consideration to all the residents in the area."

The committee has recommended Cornwall councillors refused the scheme when it goes before them on Monday. Among the reasons cited are overdevelopment, over-massing, the change of use of established commercial land, the effect it would have on the views from a conservation area and the setting of Pendennis Castle and that it would impinge on the future of Falmouth Docks.

Members of Cornwall Council's central sub area planning committee, though, are being recommended to give delegated authority to the council's head of planning and enterprise go approve the application, subject to a 106 agreement and conditions.

Case office, Mark Bull, says in his report: "The proposed development would provide purpose-built managed student accommodation on a previously developed site in a sustainable location that would help meet and therefore alleviate a pressing need for student accommodation and therefore reduce pressure on the existing housing stock of the town.

"Following significant amendments to the scheme the scale, massing, design and appearance of the development is considered to be appropriate in its context and would provide a well-designed building that would enhance the built environment in this area, in addition to providing enhanced public realm that would improve the character and appearance of Pendennis Rise and this would

provide another public benefit.

"The scheme has been designed in order to minimise any impacts upon the amenities of nearby residential occupiers and there would be no material impacts upon residents that would warrant refusal."