Boslowick Inn, Falmouth ten homes proposal refused

At a meeting of Falmouth Town Council's planning committee last night, councillors said they were not happy with the former pub being demolished or with the access to the homes proposed.

The owner of the site put an outline planning application before councillors last night with some matters reserved for demolition of the existing public house enabling a residential development of up to ten dwellings.

The outline planning application for the ten homes

Planning agent Dan Mitchell told councillors that at the moment the developers were just establishing a principle for the development and an 'indicative' layout will be finalised in the future.

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He said a heritage assessment showed the house had been used as a pub since 1960 but had struggled in recent years to the point existing tenant was keen to finish operating as it was not viable as public house. He said it was not in a conservation area or a listed building, although bats had been using the loft space, which they would have to mitigate.

Questioning Mr Mitchell on the site layout, Falmouth mayor Steve Eva said he had big concerns over access on the "awful" access to one of the proposed homes on the corner on Prislow Lane.

"We all know something's got to happen on the site but I don't like that access," he said. "You'll have to bring it in somehow from the corner. That bend is one of the worst bends I have ever seen, especially when it is icy. That corner is extremely dangerous."

He also said if it went ahead he would also want conditions on the homes that they couldn't be used for Air B&B or second homes.

Asked if Boslowick House could be kept and redeveloped Mr Mitchell said if the company was forced to do so they would have to cram in as much into it as they could, which they wouldn't want to do.

He said with the current application there were likely to be a number of affordable homes.

Cllr Alan Jewell was also not happy with the access and it had been the only pub in his division.

"Wwhere are going to go now?," he said. "It's fair old walk to the nearest one."

Cllr John Spargo said it was such a shame to lose that building even though it isn't listed. "It had a very positive impact on that area," he said.

The town council recommend refusal due to poor layout and unviable access which is on a dangerous corner of the highway. They said the loss of the pub is unacceptable as it's the only public house in the area. Although the building is not listed it is an important heritage asset which should be retained.