The developers behind plans to build retirement flats on the site of the former Admiral Nelson pub in Falmouth have been granted planning permission for an amended scheme put forward to avoid having to divert a sewage pipe.

McCarthy and Stone had won consent for 46 apartments on appeal after Cornwall Council had refused its initial application, but the discovery of the major sewage pipe running across the site in Bar Road led the company to put in an amended scheme for 44 flats.

This new application had initially been opposed by Falmouth Town Council which, acting on information before its planning committee at the time, was concerned about the possible impact the new plans could have on neighbouring residents.

The plans before councillors showed the apartments built on a different part of the site, closer to properties in Port Pendennis, and had done away with the gardens that were to border the Bar Road frontage, softening the impact of the development.

As a result of the feedback from the town council and local residents and a site inspection by the Cornwall Council case officer, further amended plans were |put forward. These show increased landscaping and more trees along the Bar Road section, a low stone boundary wall with metal railings, reconfiguration of windows and terraces to the elevation facing Royalist Court, the redesign of |the third floor terrace and confirmation that there would be no increase in |height over the existing consent and the building frontage line to Bar Road would be “largely retained.”

As a result of the changes to the amended plans, the town council lifted its objection providing a number of other issues were addressed, such as the introduction of solid panels instead of obscured glazing, agreement of construction traffic management measures, additional landscaping to the front and the Environment Agency being satisfied with the proposed flood alleviation measures.

Following further meetings between |the case officer and Cornwall Councillor for the division, Geoffrey Evans, it has been agreed that the application can be progressed as a delegated approval with a conditions and a Section 106 agreement.

In the conclusion of his report, case officer Martin Woodley, said: “It is acknowledged that the revised scheme, incorporating a new west wing projection which would bring the new development closer to adjoining dwellings along Tregunter Mews and Royalist Court, would have an increased impact on the level of established residential amenity for neighbours but the level of this impact would not warrant a refusal of the application on this issue considering the level of mitigating measures that have been achieved with revised plans.”

The Section 106 agreement requires the developer to make a contribution of £150,000 towards affordable housing provision; £18,378 for transport infrastructure and £13,663 towards open space infrastructure.