ONE of Falmouth's oldest surviving buildings would permanently marred by a 'horrendous' extension proposed for the cottage next door, say objectors.

An application has been made for the cottage to the rear of The Old Bakery in Smithick Hill which is over 200 years old and is the only surviving original building in the area.

The owners of The Cottage on Vernon Hill have applied for alterations to the building including a first floor extension and a roof over the current parking bay with a terrace and a set of doors at the front. It will run alongside the side of The Old Bakery.

The architects of the proposals LA Architecture say they will "not adversely affect the visual appearance or character of the property".

However, a recent meeting of Falmouth town council's planning committee recommend refusal of the application on the grounds of it being un-neighbourly in terms of noise and not in keeping with the area and the visual impact of the car port would have a detrimental effect on the Conservation Area.

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The Save Our Falmouth Group are also against the application saying it would neither enhance or preserve the character of The Old Bakery and goes against Cornwall Council's policy on development within Conservation Areas.

The owner of The Old Bakery Brendan Fitzgerald said he was "shocked and disappointed" that the plans had been put through.

"The visual impact upon The Old Bakery will be massive," he said. "The Old Bakery is a piece of Falmouth's history and is the only surviving original property on Smithick Hill, all other properties are post 1970's.

"The property dates back nearly 200 years and I've often found tourists taking photographs of the front of the property which is detached, this proposal would visually ruin the ascetic look of the property and effectively turn it into a semi detached property."

He said the decking area comes within approximately two inches of his exterior wall. "The noise created directly by people on the decking area next to my front bedroom is quite obvious and requires little explanation," he said.

He said The Old Bakery requires re-painting around every three to four years as these properties have little direct sunlight and moisture and mould build up easily. He said the proposal would prevent him from carrying this out and result in moisture and damp issues on the building.

"I am genuinely shocked and disappointed that these plans have even been submitted, the detrimental effects to my property and the area as a whole are quite obvious and I urge you to refuse this part of the application," he said.

Another objector Deborah Tall condemned the 'horrendous' design saying it does nothing to compliment the cottage.