The company behind the redevelopment of Old County Hall in Truro is the same one behind the controversial Liner building in Falmouth, the Packet can reveal.

A spokeswoman for Acorn Property Group’s Cornwall region, Acorn Blue said the company had entered a joint venture with the owner of the site to turn it into apartments.

"Acorn Property Group’s Cornwall region, Acorn Blue who have entered into a Joint Venture Partnership with the owners of the building to submit a planning application to redevelop the former Old County Hall and rear car park," she said in a statement.

Acorn Blue is behind the controversial Liner development overlooking Gyllyngvase Beach in Falmouth

Acorn Blue is behind the controversial Liner development overlooking Gyllyngvase Beach in Falmouth

It was revealed this week that the iconic building had been sold subject to the offer going through, but it had not yet been revealed who the new owner of iconic building in Station Road is. The asking price was £3.5m.

Acorn intend converting the listed building into apartments along with the car park and it will be developed over two phases with the listed building completed first and then the car park, all subject to planning approval. It could not say whether any of them would be "affordable".

The company said it would retain traditional features of the listed building and the character of the property, but couldn't say what would become of the historic debating chamber. It has not yet been revealed how many apartments there will be, but the company expects to put in a planning application later in the year.

It is a joint venture with the new owner but the company did not buy the building.

Acorn Blue is behind the controversial Liner development overlooking Gyllyngvase Beach in Falmouth

Acorn Blue is behind the controversial Liner development overlooking Gyllyngvase Beach in Falmouth

It was designed in 1890 by TB Silcock and the county council and is a grand grade 2 listed building, constructed of local materials.

The site was originally used as the administrative centre for Cornwall Council until it moved to New County Hall in July 1966. Up until when it was sold it was used by Cornwall Records office.

It was bought in 2012 by the owner of St Michael’s Hotel in Falmouth, Nigel Carpenter who wanted to turn it into a new 4 star deluxe flagship spa-hotel for Truro.

However in 2015 Mr Carpenter put it back on the market for £3m. It was bought by Wolf Rock (Cornwall) which was wound up in 2019.

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The Liner building is currently nearing completion towering over Gyllyngvase Beach, and has been condemned by many locals who say the massive building is completely out of place and overbearing.