THE developers behind the Liner building on Falmouth seafront have bought the empty Marks and Spencers building in Falmouth to turn it into shops and waterfront flats

Acorn Blue says it has successfully secured the former Marks & Spencer’s building in Market Street with plans to create a new mixed-use residential scheme, with direct water access.

Prior to Acorn Property Group’s regional Cornish arm, Acorn Blue, purchasing the site on Market Street, which runs through to the waterfront at the rear, it had lain vacant for over two years, following the closure of Marks & Spencer’s Falmouth store as part of a programme of rationalisation.

For over a decade the majority of the site had only been used by Marks and Spencer’s for storage, making it under-utilised and increasingly an inefficient use of resource. The regeneration of the building will see retail return to the site and provide valuable homes for Falmouth.

The company says many high streets are facing challenges, further exacerbated by Coronavirus, and with the building needing to be stripped back to structure in order to remove asbestos, there had been little prospect of a retail business re-opening at the location in its existing form.

The current proposal for the redevelopment of the ‘brownfield’ high street site sees the retail component retained and brought back into use, while converting the upper floors and waterfront areas into residential units, with the creation of direct water access for residents.

The site will provide up to 16 residential units, comprising a mix of 2, 3 and 4-bedroom houses, duplexes and apartments, with outside space, boat storage, car parking and a communal courtyard garden. Having successfully exchanged on the site at the close of 2020, Acorn Blue will now progress with planning for the site, which they anticipate being submitted this spring.

Andrew Strathdee, Development Director at Acorn Blue commented, “We are delighted to have successfully exchanged on this prime high street location and excited to be able to once more bring the site back to full use, in due course, bringing retail and people back to this central Falmouth location.

“The Market Street development will retain a retail component, of a more accessible scale. The site, which extends through to the waterfront at the rear, will provide homes in an enviably central location, with direct water access.

“This will be our second site here in Falmouth, following the hugely successful The Liner, which is now almost completely sold off plan, overlooking Gyllyngvase Beach.”

The site occupies prime water frontage, next to Prince of Wales Quay, looking out onto the largest residential mooring area in Falmouth, with views to St Mawes.

Acorn Blue will share further information about the development as the project progresses. Those interested in Market Street, Falmouth can register for email updates with Acorn Blue by visiting their website: www.acornpropertygroup.org