A £30 MILLION hotel and spa complex proposed for the seafront is likely to "permanently disfigure" the town's waterfront, according to Falmouth Civic Society.
The group described the design for the St Michael's Spa & Wellness Resort as "oppressive" and "lacking in flair".
The plans, which include retail space, underground parking, conference rooms, restaurants, eco-lodges, apartments and hotel rooms, were submitted to Cornwall Council and unanimously supported by Falmouth Town Council's planning committee.
The main building on the site where the Falmouth Beach Hotel burned down would be in the shape of a cruise ship and called the Liner. In its submission to Cornwall Council, the civic society said the ambition for the hotel was "excellent" but its design was flawed.
"Our objection concerns design and the physical and visual impact of the Liner building," it said. "The analogy with a liner is stretched beyond its limits. The proposed design of this building is poor, and is likely to permanently disfigure the waterfront.
"Its form and massing is oppressive and design lacking in flair.
"Viewed from the road, what will be seen is a large multi-storey block with a stark flat roof lacking visual interest. Our opinion is that this building is simply not good enough, and falls far short of architecture that could be termed iconic."
The views of society's members were expressed by consultation with its executive committee, which met on August 25.
The group's chairman, Professor Mike Jenks, former head of the Oxford School of Architecture, said it fully supports the development as good for Falmouth, but added: "It is an opportunity for the very best architecture, which the current Liner building is not." The submission added: "Falmouth deserves a much better building, one which architecturally the town can be proud of, which gets attention nationally and internationally for its quality and design, which draws people in to see and experience it and the facilities of Falmouth.
"Accordingly we believe that this design should not be granted permission, and that it is reworked."
The group suggested the scheme be referred by Cornwall Council, which will decide whether to grant planning permission, for the "best advice on design" to the Cornwall Design Review Panel and the Chartered Association of Building Engineers via the South West Regional Design Review Panel.
St Michael's owner Nigel Carpenter cited the support of the "overwhelming majority of the Falmouth community" and said the comment was "disappointing but I understand they did not have sight of the revised images of the scheme.
"They expressed enthusiasm and encouragement at the first consultation and the scheme has been strengthened considerably since then, in the light of feedback, which has included the Design Review Panel. Inevitably, in any new and groundbreaking scheme, there will always be some who oppose."
