Plans to convert an office building into a 12-bedroom house of multiple occupation (HMO) have been rejected.

A planning application to convert the property at Alma Place, Redruth, into an HMO went before Cornwall Council’s west sub-area planning committee yesterday.

It was the second time that the plans, from Mr and Mrs Batten, had gone before the committee – a previous application to turn the building into a 14-bedroom property was deferred in a bid to reduce the number of bedrooms.

The committee heard that there was already permission in place to convert the building into seven flats.

The building is currently empty but was previously used by the Job Centre and a drug and alcohol charity for offices.

Planning officers had recommended that the plans should be approved saying that objections did not warrant refusal and that there were “clear benefits” to the plans.

One objector told the committee that he “strongly opposed” the plans and urged the committee to refuse permission.

He said: “People on low incomes do not want to be housed in cramped accommodation let by landlords trying to maximise their income.”

Redruth Town Council had also objected to the plans and claimed that the police had also opposed the scheme – although there was no police response to the application in the report or on the council website.

The town council said it was committed to providing affordable housing for local people but the HMO was not the best way to do that.

It said it would be better to convert the building into seven flats than to have 12 bedrooms.

The town council said the proposals would be over development and that the police had raised concerns about antisocial behaviour in the area.

It said: “The town council and police are working tirelessly to make Redruth a welcoming place. The power is in your hands to refuse this application.”

On the council website Geoffrey Vaughan-Birch, who owns Alma House, said he had already seen other properties converted in the area.

He said: “Having now to even contemplate the development of a house (full) of (additional or) multiple occupants, located in what is surely one of Redruth’s more attractive streets, is abhorrent to me and surely all its other residents too.

“There is an obvious and complete lack of space/areas to accommodate the (mandatory) arrival of large refuse bins which, one can immediately foretell, will most likely be deposited on the wide and pleasant (Redruth Regeneration Scheme) paved area, i.e. right in front of The Alma Gallery.

“And then we have the total lack of any specific parking spaces available in this street which, without doubt, will bring about an increase in the illegal parking already experienced, especially on (again) the paved area in front of my building, blocking the view and on occasions even access to (again) the Alma Gallery.

“Furthermore, the numerous and nefarious (recorded) activities that occur in this street on a daily basis, even in broad daylight, will most certainly be exacerbated by any additional ‘HMO’ type development.

“It could definitely damage relationships and businesses and destroy any, if not all, of the remaining character and quality that this significant, central area currently possesses.”

Committee member Joyce Duffin proposed that the plans should be refused saying that the committee should be supporting “good quality development” and the application did not achieve that.

Cllr Mark Kaczmarek agreed and said he did not agree that the plans had been reduced from 14 bedrooms to 12 but had in fact been increased from the existing plans for seven flats to 12 bedrooms.

Planning permission was refused with 14 votes in favour, none against and one abstention.