A housing association has released details of proposals to replace one of Cornwall’s tallest buildings with affordable flats.

Residents of Fountain Court in Penzance were told by LiveWest in October 2022 they had up to eight months to move out of their sheltered housing accommodation to allow for the building to be knocked down, as the 1960s block of flats no longer met “modern building standards or energy efficiency expectations”.

The building incorporated 22 sheltered housing flats for people aged over 55. People living in Fountain Court were told they could choose one of LiveWest’s vacant homes and would not need to register with Cornwall Council’s Homechoice Register to find a new place to live.

Despite the concerns of some of the residents, who didn’t want to be moved, the block is now empty with ground floor windows and the main entrance sealed.

DMA Architects has now submitted a pre-application on behalf of LiveWest for advice from Cornwall Council’s planning department before lodging a full application to demolish the tower block and replace it with 21 affordable apartments of which 13 are two-bedroom flats and eight are one-bedroom apartments.

The new flats would be lower than the existing building.

A planning statement says: “The proposal seeks to provide a scheme that utilises local materials found across Penzance but used in a contemporary way.

“There would be 17 parking spaces as well as a secure external cycle store to the rear.

“Due to the location of the site and its very close proximity to the town centre, community facilities, public transport links and existing unallocated parking along St Clare Street we consider that this ratio of parking is sufficient.”

Tim Dwelly, Cornwall councillor for Penzance East, said: “I called on LiveWest to replace as many of the affordable flats lost with new affordable flats, which are better insulated and fireproof. Pleased to see this is what they are now proposing.”