Plans to refurbish a long-derelict house on the junction of Dracaena Avenue and Kimberley Park Road have been submitted.

Tregantle occupies a highly visible spot in Falmouth and has been the subject of much frustration from councillors, including the late Candy Atherton who implored Cornwall Council to sort out the issue in 2017.

After years of neglect, the house could finally be fixed-up and turned into five separate flats if the planning application is approved by Cornwall Council.

The applicant, Alan Jewel (no relation to councillor Alan Jewell), seeks to build a small ground floor extension and carry out internal alterations to the building.

Case officer Hayley Wray assessed the application and found that it is not likely to be used as a house in multiple occupation (HMO) as the plans are to convert it to five separate, independent flats rather than one shared building with five separate households, which is the current definition of an HMO.

She also suggested that the application should be suspended following a more detailed design and access statement.

Councillor for Penwerris ward Grenville Chappel said: "It's good to see something's happening to it and it's not the same as it was before."

Falmouth Civic Society supported the supported the application, saying: "It is welcome that this house will be put back into use, despite poor design and inadequately lit rooms. The design is for five genuinely independent flats so is not likely to be used as an HMO."

The town council supported the application in principle but felt it should be deferred for an improved design and access statement to be submitted.