Proposed plans to build a brand new development housing nearly 2,000 students in Penryn is set to go before the council planning committee on Monday (26th).

If granted, this will be a 1858 bed zero-carbon construction, with sports and leisure facilities, tennis courts, student parking, business startups, and a GP surgery, among many other things.

The plans were brought forward to Cornwall Council in September 2018, with the proposed site an area of agricultural land 1 mile north of Penryn at Penvose Farm.

Submitted by Andy West, of Falmouth Student Village Limited, he said:

"The application site is considered wholly suitable for a Student Village development, as has been confirmed by the council through its approval of a previous scheme that established the principle of development, as well as other assessments."

In a planning statement from the applicant, it was suggested that the plans for the student village should be approved.

The application was also supported by CRM Students, a leading property management partner, James Brant, Head of Commercial commented:

"We strongly support the application for the development of Penvose Student Village. CRM believes that the Student Village addresses a key issue within Falmouth and Penryn, bringing students away from HMOs.

"Further to this, the exceptional design and layout of the scheme will provide a vibrant community which will cater to a variety of students, providing communal facilities and retail establishments to the student base, as well as the local residents."

However, the plans were met with a strong objection from Harry Metcalfe, who commented:

"We do not want or need such a huge development of student housing that will completely swamp the local population, there are no grounds to justify its need (post-Covid) and there are better sites that are proportionally better suited to picking up any notional student need, should there be any in the future.

"This student village is a 'try-on' that will never be built out by Verto Homes, who will sit on it for 12-24 months whilst they work behind closed doors with Cornwall Council to facilitate a housing development as an alternative to the student housing as part of a wider Treliver Masterplan."

Falmouth Town Council will now meet next Monday to view the plans and make their decision.

Click here to see the plans for yourself and submit any comments.

[H3] See the latest news on our Twitter and Facebook pages. [.H2]