Plans for a mixed accommodation and commercial development at the site of Penryn's Rebel Brewery offer investment in industrial properties and an ideal student site, according to developers.

Plans to redevelop the site, with new premises for the brewery and other existing businesses and a 247 bed student block, were unveiled at a public consultation in Penryn Rugby Club on Wednesday afternoon.

Developers Trathen Properties are working with Mitchell Architects of Plymouth to demolish and rebuild the existing Century House site, which sits on the edge of the university campus.

The plans are for a building of five storeys plus another half storey on top, with the ground floor to include student amenities, a convenience store, space for three start up businesses as well as current occupiers Venn Creative and Rebel Brewing, who would also be offered a contract to run a pub on site.

Managing director David Trathen said the development would also include bike storage for half of the occupants, and 25 on site parking spaces with a guaranteed 15 year lease for another 50 spaces on Penryn Rugby Club land at the junction of Parkengue and Kernick Road.

Mr Trathen said: "There are currently approximately 14 employees on site with the current businesses, and we are looking at more than doubling the current amount of jobs."

He said: "We feel with other planning applications that have been released, one of the major problems has been parking and bike sheds. We feel we have addressed [these problems]" and added that the parking deal "would help support the rugby club for the next 15 years."

Recent pre-application advice from Cornwall Council officers suggested that the site should not be "too much taller" than existing buildings, however Ricky Burke of Mitchell Architects said the proposed building sits in a slight dip compared to surrounding land, and would be lower than both the university buildings and nearby residential areas. He added that nearby trees would also act as a screen to a certain extent.

Mr Burke said: "One of the great things about this site is that it's right on the university campus fringe."

He also pointed out that the current occupiers of the site are graduate businesses, and said the new start up space could "help keep students in the area, instead of them gaining experience at university and then going elsewhere."

Mr Trathen added that the development would allow the company to modernise a site that was reaching the end of its useful industrial life and keep it in use.

Zander Grinfeld and Andy Hurtel of Venn Creative, which is currently based at the site, said tghey thought it was "potentially very positive," as long as the current businesses would continue to be accommodated, adding "it depends how we're looked after."

A spokesperson for Rebel Brewing Co said the plans did not take into account the needs of businesses on site, and would cut the company's floor space from 7,000 square feet to 1,500, while rent went up from £3 pre square foot to up to £15.

He said: "The main developer told me he doesn't want us on site as it's too much hassle and he won't make enough money. He purely wants maximum bedrooms at maximum price and the least bit of commercial to allow him to get planning.

"In fairness to them they are looking at revising the plans but they want us to compromise but pay way more money for the privilege."