A FAMILY has been given the go-ahead to demolish their 1960s bungalow and replace it with a two storey house, despite concerns by a nearby guest house owner that it would kill their business.

Cornwall Council has given permission to the owners of Santillana, in Sea View Road, Falmouth to demolish the existing three-bedroom bungalow and replace it with a four-bedroom home.

The owner said the existing building is in need of extensive refurbishment and modernisation and had decided that the most efficient way forward would be to demolish the existing building and replace it with a new modern, energy efficient, four bedroom house for his family.

 

The current bungalow which will be demolished

The current bungalow which will be demolished

 

This will mean the ridge height of the new home will be increased from 4.9m to 8.15m, an increase of 3.25m. This will provide an extra storey in which four bedrooms can be contained.

However this had caused concerns for the owners of Falmouth Bay Guesthouse behind the development in Pennance Road who were worried that the new building in front of their home would block guests' sea view and they would not return.

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A number of regular guests had written to the council claiming that they would not be returning if the application was given the go-ahead because of the loss of sea views.

The owner of the Falmouth guesthouse Jenny Cracknell wrote objecting on Cornwall Council's saying the development could force the closure of their business.

"My property is still running as a guest house after decades of being so, and with the demise of many other guest houses in Falmouth it is almost considered a dying trade for Falmouth now being replaced by AirBNB and second home owners," she said.

"We have many guests come and stay with us because we offer them a view of the sea from our property. This will be taken from us and them if this proposal is granted.. and can then see our business shut down as a guest house, too... maybe sold to an out of town purchaser as a holiday home."

 

A satellite image of the area

A satellite image of the area

 

But the concerns were rejected at a meeting of Falmouth Town Council's planning committee last year who recommended approval of the application, with Cllr John Spargo saying they were "alarmist".

Cornwall Council planners gave permission for the demolition and rebuild to go-ahead.