Plans for the new £25m (US$41.1m, €31.3m) St Michael's Spa & Wellness Resort in Falmouth, Cornwall, UK have taken a step further forward having been given unanimous approval by the Falmouth Town Council Planning Committee.

Having met with the current St Michael’s owner and project developer Nigel Carpenter, the council has agreed on the plans on the basis that a layer of car parking and four eco lodges that were originally planned for the site are removed.

The plans are now to be put forward to Cornwall Council, which will make a final decision in early November.

The Poynton Bradbury Wynter Cole-designed project would see the existing St Michael’s hotel and spa facility become part of a larger development using the site of the former Falmouth Beach hotel.

The new destination spa will house seven treatment rooms, a beauty salon, swimming pool with extensive relaxation areas and a new conservatory.

Other facilities housed at the site include a hydrotherapy pool, sauna and steamroom, experience rainforest showers, relaxation areas, an outdoor Finnish sauna and a spa café with spa gardens.

In terms of hotel facilities, there will also be 30 new hotel suites and 51 ocean-facing apartments. These are accompanied by plans for restaurants, retail facilities and a health club.

If the Cornish council follows the Planning Committee's recommendations, work could start next year, with a predicted construction period of 18 months.