A guest house can be converted into housing for people needing extra support, despite objections from the local council.

Cornwall Council’s east sub-area planning agreed to support the plans to turn the former Nebula bed and breakfast property in Higher Lux Street into accommodation for young people with learning disabilities and autism.

The building will be converted into four one-bedroom flats and four supported living en-suite bedsit rooms with communal facilities.

Liskeard Town Council said that while it was in favour of supported living accommodation they felt there were better sites for such facilities. Local members were concerned about the loss of tourist accommodation in the town which they said was important for the local economy.

Councillors heard that the property had been put on the market for sale for 12 months as a guest house but there had been no interest. But the town council said that this was done during lockdown when they said nobody would have been looking to invest in such a business, and that there had been a toursim boom since.

Cllr Naomi Taylor, who is Liskeard’s planning committee chairman, said: “It is always disappointing to see the loss of an independent business within the town. We are committed to protecting the viability and vitality of the town centre, and tourism is one of these key areas.”

Carole Edmond, CEO of Glassmoon Services, said that the scheme was unique in offering specialist care services to young people and adults, enabling people to stay closer to home rather than moving away for care.

Local Cornwall councillor for the area Nick Craker acknowledged the town council’s concerns about the loss of tourism accommodation and said that there had been some “offence” taken by a report which suggested that Liskeard was not a tourist destination.

But he said there was “incredible” demand for supported housing in Cornwall and that both adult and children’s services at Cornwall Council were in favour of the proposals.

Committee member Adam Paynter proposed that the application be approved saying that the new facility would create new jobs and would enable young people who need supported living to remain in Cornwall.

The committee voted unanimously to approve the planning application.