Falmouth former Argos store could be turned into hotel

Developer Michael Tomkins, along with co-investors, bought the old Argos site on Berkeley Vale at auction from a pension company after it failed to find a retailer to take the building over. 

A public consultation last year raised concerns about parking.

Developer Michael Tomkins at last year's public consultation (Image: Paul Armstrong)

The application will be duscussed at tonight's meeting of Falmouth Town Council's planning committee.

The proposed building is four storeys in height fronting Berkeley Vale and five storeys to the rear facing the student housing.

The building line has been pulled forward from the existing shop to align with the police station and garage.

The proposed hotel (Image: Axion Architects)

The proposed massing steps back at roof level from Berkeley Vale and aligns with the height of the neighbouring old Police station. 

The proposed hotel reception is accessed directly from Berkeley Vale, the ground floor is designed to be open plan with a restaurant area accessed directly from the reception.

The hotel would served with two lifts, a customer and service lift to assist with linen distributions throughout the floors.

There are two stairs, a main and escape stair at opposing ends of the plan, one terminating at the access to the east and the other utilising the service corridor.

A lightwell has been introduced to the centre of the plan to allow additional rooms to be located centrally.

At third floor the bedrooms step back from the principle elevation and start to form the roofscape, the rooms are provided with dormers.

At fourth floor the rooms step back further from the principle elevation and further extend the roofscape.

There is an area of plant located centrally within the 4th floor, this will house the condensers and extraction units for the kitchen at ground floor. 

The appication will be discussed at tonight's meeting of Falmouth Town Council's planning committee.