Falmouth plans explored for nine apartments on Melvill Road

Marble Homes Ltd is seeking further pre-application advice from Cornwall Council over proposals for vacant land south-west of Bridge House Apartments, off Melvill Road.

The latest request, submitted through Tristram Stott Architects, focuses on the heritage aspects of a revised design and asks whether the proposals would preserve or enhance the character and appearance of the Falmouth Conservation Area.

The site forms part of a narrow, wooded corridor between Melvill Road and the Falmouth-Truro railway line and has a long association with the railway. It formerly contained sidings, an engine shed and turntables serving the Falmouth branch line.

The site has been the subject of a number planning applications (Image: Google Street View)

Half of the wider site has already been developed as Bridge House Apartments, while the remaining land is undeveloped.

Proposals have previously been put forward to develop the site, but an earlier scheme was refused by Cornwall Council and an appeal was subsequently dismissed.

The planning inspector concluded that the undeveloped portion retained "moderate" landscape and open-space value and made a positive contribution to the area's green character. Concerns were also raised over the proposed building's design, massing and materials and the impact on the conservation area.

Marble Homes subsequently returned with plans for nine apartments, comprising six two-bedroom and three three-bedroom properties. Those proposals included nine allocated parking spaces, three visitor spaces, cycle and bin storage and shared landscaped terraced gardens.

3D image of the new proposals for the site (Image: Tristram Stott Architects/Cornwall Counci)

The developer brought in heritage consultant Dan Ratcliffe as it sought to draw up a more sensitive design in response to the inspector's findings.

The latest pre-application request now seeks further heritage advice from the council on the revised approach before the proposals progress any further.

The scheme remains at the pre-application stage and a formal planning application has not yet been submitted.