Row over waterside homes plan

PLANS for a five-storey sheltered housing development in a prominent waterside position are being strongly opposed by nearby residents.
Stockton Heath Parish Council is also objecting to the development at the former Beers timber yard on the banks of the Manchester Ship Canal in Station Road, Latchford, Warrington.
The scheme involves 44 units for the elderly in a building that is part four and part five storeys high.
The parish council claims the number of units is in excess of outline planning permission and that the building would be visually intrusive and overbearing to the residents of Greenbank Road and Lower Hill Top Road.
Five letters of objection have also been received from neighbours who say the development is out of character and obtrusive and that it would interfere with television and mobile phone signals.
They also complain it would cause lack of privacy and traffic congestion because of the extra cars it would attract.
But a planning department spokesman said: “The density and scale of the buildings is considered appropriate to the site context and the scheme represents an attractive waterside development with the benefit of the removal of the existing industrial use. Landscaping, parking and footpath linkages are satisfactory.”
They say there would be “no significant loss” or privacy, outlook or amenity for neighbours.
A second application involving 93 apartments in five four-storey and two three-storey blocks on another section of the same site is also being recommended for approval.
A number of nearby residents have objected – but the parish council has not opposed this scheme.