RESIDENTS opposed to the development of Croylands into a series of ‘later-living’ apartments have commissioned the services of a planning expert in their battle to have the plans rejected.

McCarthy and Stone applied back in October to transform Croylands, in Cambridge Road, into 21 flats for elderly people but the application has been met with determined resistance from neighbours of the site, who have labelled it a “gross overdevelopment”.

The City of Ely Council, Ely Society and more than 100 other residents have lodged letters of objection with East Cambridgeshire District Council and now, the residents of Cambridge Road and Houghton Gardens have submitted a report, drawing on the work of a planning expert.

King’s Lynn-based John Selby, a former council conservation officer, submitted a 20-page report to the district council this week, outlining why the authority should thrown out the plans.

In the report, he said: “The proposed dwelling by virtue of its siting and design would result in the introduction of an incongruous form of development that will result in harm to the heritage asset and its setting and will harm the character and appearance of the Conservation Area – that harm is not outweighed by the public benefits which the proposal would provide.

“The proposal will harm the amenity of neighbouring residential property. The proposed extension by reason of its height, form, mass and design, will be overbearing and cause overshadowing and would also cause visual harm to heritage assets.

“The proposal should be refused both planning permission and conservation area consent.”

The plans are expected to go before councillors on the council’s planning committee within the next few months. To view the plans, or to have your say, visit www.eastcambs.gov.uk.