An attempt to convert a home into a house in multiple occupation (HMO) for up to five local working people is "unlikely to demonstrate local support", according to a planning officer.

Cornwall Council development officer Hilary Gooch sent pre-application advice to Robin Tidman about the property on Tregullow Road saying that the planning process has no say over who rents a property.

Mr Tidman said in his application form that he was "seeking to rent to local working professionals and not students."

Ms Gooch referenced the Article 4 direction that came into effect in 2017 to prevent the creation of more HMOs, as well as a line in the emerging Falmouth Neighbourhood Development Plan requiring all applications for change of use to HMOs to be rejected.

She went on to say that she was unable to support a formal planning application for the property.

An HMO is defined as a property with five or more tenants from separate 'households' - ie people renting rooms separately.

Falmouth has five times more HMOs than any other Cornish town.