AUGUSTA Park residents are up in arms over a planning application for shops and flats opposite Endeavour Primary School.

The proposal by developers Daytona and Taylor Wimpey is for a three-storey building on the Northern Local Centre land comprising shops and 20 flats intended for social housing.

The application has attracted widespread criticism from residents, with more than 25 people having lodged objections.

Concerns include the flat-roofed design, car parking issues and the potential to attract vandalism and antisocial behaviour.

Barley Road resident Ann Truss said: “Many residents have objected to the proposed shops with flats above.

“The flat-roof design is not suitable in this climate and the design is not in keeping with the surrounding residential development.

She added: “As a former housing manager I know that flats over shops are extremely difficult to let.

“The properties become vacant, the shops below are then unlettable and the focus for vandalism.”

A further concern is that the number of social housing units breaches the council’s policy to have a cluster of no more than 15.

Cllr Phil North, said: “I share residents’ concerns about the plans for the Northern Local Centre.

“The developer has been in discussion with the borough council about this application for some time.

“From my reading of the additional information provided by the developer, I don’t believe they have fully addressed these concerns.

He went on to say: “I want to see this facility built and open for the residents of Augusta Park to use but we must get it right.

“The proper ‘pepper potting’ of social housing in new developments has proved highly successful and I would be very wary to agree something that doesn’t conform to this.”

The outcome of the application will be determined by the planning committee at a meeting in October.