A PLANNING application for the conversion of a Henry Rice-designed property into five self-contained, supported living flats has been approved with conditions by Cornwall Council.

The building on the corner of Manley Road and Station Road is a two-storey end-of-terrace Victorian property, built by the noted local architect Henry Rice and contractor J P Sargent in 1860.

The aim, says applicant Nell Homes Ltd, is that the flats will be generous in size and flexible in layout with each flat having its own front door and containing a kitchen, living space, wet room and bedroom. Care will be provided for tenants selected from referrals made by the council and then assessed as suitable for living independently in the community.

Support will be from Glassmoon Services, who provide 24-hour registered care, supported living and outreach services.

The level of support will aim to enable the tenants to live as independently as possible, with care being provided on a shift basis, with a rest room area for staff being provided at the rear of the property.

The Design and Access Statement notes that none of the external changes will be on publicly facing elevations, with the overall appearance remaining almost identical to the existing building. As such the proposals are considered to have little impact on the character of the heritage assets. Cornwall Council Service Director Planning and Sustainable Development Louise Wood approves the application with conditions including that the development should be begun within three years, and that the parking spaces and turning area serving the development should be maintained only for those purposes so that vehicles can park and manoeuvre safely.

The approval notice also includes a recommendation from the Devon and Cornwall Police Architectural Liaison Officer that installation of CCTV is considered for the site as “having coverage of the front and rear access may be very useful, especially if staff will often been the rest room as indicated”.Several comments in objection to the plans from neighbouring residents were lodged with Cornwall Council. Concerns were mainly over access and parking, as well as noise and security.Liskeard Town Council gave its support to the proposal.To see the full plans visit Cornwall Council's planning portal and use reference PA21/02923