A stark safety warning has been issued after two young men were spotted climbing the façade of the former Marks and Spencer in Falmouth at the weekend.
The building in Market Street is currently undergoing redevelopment into residential flats and three small retail units.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday morning, October 11, and is believed to have taken place following a night out.
Photos shared with Acorn Blue, the company overseeing the redevelopment, show one man perched on the top rail of the temporary works structure and another standing halfway up the façade retention system.
A spokesperson for Acorn Blue expressed deep concern over the potential for serious injury or even death, stating: “This is something that could very easily have resulted in a serious injury or fatality if either of them had fallen.”
The company emphasized that their primary concern is the safety of individuals and the risks posed by climbing on the temporary structure supporting the building’s façade.
Although the police were contacted, Devon and Cornwall Police advised that the matter was not criminal as no damage was caused and the incident was classified as trespass.
Acorn Blue also reached out to Falmouth Town Council and the university, as the individuals involved could have been students.
The redevelopment project, which began in late 2024, involves converting the historic building into 14 private apartments ranging from one to four bedrooms, along with three retail units on the ground floor and parking on the lower ground level.
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The façade is being held in place by 60-tonne metal brackets while internal demolition of the floors behind continues, and these supports are expected to remain for several months. Safety fencing panels have also been put across the front of the building.
The former M&S store, a fixture in Falmouth for over 80 years, closed its doors on February 2, 2019. Acorn Blue’s proposal to redevelop the site was initially refused but later granted on appeal in 2023. The full project is expected to be completed by January 2027.
Acorn Blue is urging the public to take heed of the dangers and avoid similar actions, stressing that such behaviour could have tragic consequences.
There have also been reports of people swimming from the pier and climbing the scaffolding at the rear of the redevelopment.
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