Plans to demolish a former care home and replace it with 34 apartments have been refused planning permission with one councillor describing it as "ugly".

Investin Sheldon Falmouth Developments had applied to Cornwall Council for permission for the redevelopment of Sheldon House Nursing Home in Sea View Road, Falmouth.

Planning officers had recommended that the plans should be approved despite objections from local residents and Falmouth Town Council.

Opponents had criticised the design of the apartment buildings and raised concerns that the site is in a conservation area.

Cornwall Council's central sub-area planning committee raised similar concerns when they considered the application at their meeting this afternoon.

Some councillors also said that they believed that there should be more parking spaces allocated to the apartments.

The plans had been put forward for the fourth time and the developers had made significant changes following public consultation including reducing the height of the buildings and the number of apartments.

Support had been given to the plans by the Cornwall Design Review Panel but the council's conservation officer said that the design "may not be appropriate" and would go against the Cornwall Local Plan and national planning guidance.

Committee member Joanna Kenny said: "I think it is rather nice but it may be in the wrong location."

She added: "I think it is a good design but in the wrong place."

Alan Jewell was very critical and proposed that the plans should be refused. He said: "I think this application is in such the wrong place – I have never seen such an ugly thing.

"It would not look out of place in a city, but this isn't a city."

He added: "The conservation area officer's report is damning, it absolutely slates the application."

Mike Thomas said that he was concerned about the amount of parking spaces – just 29 were planned for the 34 apartments.

He said that people living in the apartments would likely need a car to get to work and that there were also no spaces for visitors.

Planning officers said that the site was in a "sustainable location" so the level of parking would be acceptable.

Dulcie Tudor said: "I really like the design of this. I like the basement parking and the landscaping and green areas. But I like this design if it was proposed for a city development. I don't think it is appropriate in a conservation area of a seaside town."

Cllr Jewell proposed refusal on the grounds included in the objection raised by the conservation officer which highlighted that it goes against local and national planning policy.

He also said that it was against policies included in the Falmouth neighbourhood plan.