An Arnold resident fears a planned three-storey block of flats will block out daylight in his home. Sean Redgate, who lives in a bungalow off Church Street, raised concerns about the proposals for apartments to be built on a neighbouring former coal yard.
He said the home, which was built by his dad in the 1960s, would be deprived of sunlight due to the size of the building, which would consist of nine one-bedroom assisted living properties. The owner of the land said he was addressing the concerns "as best as I can".
The flats would be erected at the former Scattergoods Coal Merchants site under the plans, as well as a communal building. "Historically it's been a coal yard for 40 years so whilst it's been there we've enjoyed open space and sunlight," said Mr Redgate, 57.
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"With the proposals it's going to block a lot of daylight and sunshine out. I've got concerns with how close the building will be to my property. Also with the fencing and how high it's going to be."
Mr Redgate said the land on which the flats would be built also used to belong to his family, before they sold it in 1971, when it became a coal yard. "I'm also concerned about the length of the building time, it's a residential area and there will be disruption and noise," he said.
"I hope it doesn't start too early or finish too late." Mr Redgate said he is now a "custodian" of the house after his dad died earlier this year.
"It's Redgate land and always will be. But is this going to affect the value? I don't know."
Adrian Tolley, who owns the land, said he was doing everything he could to ensure the building fits in with its surroundings, saying he has already agreed to bring the height down from what was originally proposed. "The first thing we noticed was the height was an overall concern so we reduced the overall mass based on what the council have given us in terms of advice," said the 56-year-old.
"It's now on the same plain as the rest of the buildings, the roof height will be the same as those that surround it. I've lived in Arnold all my life, that coal yard has been in my family all my life, so I'm not going to build something on there that doesn't take into account its surroundings.
"It's got to fit it's surroundings because I'm an Arnold lad, I don't want to look at a big block of flats and I'm doing my best to ensure that's not the case."
Jean Walton, 79, who lives nearby, was supportive of the plans. "We could do with more flats, especially for elderly and single people who can't get on the market ladder," she said.
"It will be nice to think people will be living there rather than leaving it empty."
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