RESIDENTS say plans for an apartment block with the appearance of a ‘hall of residence’ would cause traffic hazards and parking problems.

Numerous residents are opposing a scheme to demolish Hillside, a former care home in Adlington Road, Wilmslow, to make way for a block of 11 one and two-bedroom apartments.

The former care home is in a severe state of disrepair, and a previous Jones Homes application to Cheshire East Council for 14 apartments on the site was refused.

The applicant for the current scheme, Mirasa Wilmslow Ltd, said the size of the building was much smaller than the one refused, and the building was less imposing on neighbouring properties.

The proposed windows were lower, and those facing neighbouring properties would be largely screened by the mature trees on the site.

A report said the design of the scheme took account of objections to the refused application, and feedback was generally positive from a public consultation event.

Despite the differences between the previous and current schemes residents are still strongly opposed to the apartment plans, which are also opposed by Wilmslow Town Council, which said the building would be overbearing on neighbouring properties and out of keeping with properties in Wilmslow Park.

A resident from Overhill Lane said: “From Adlington Road what will be observed is a car park, bin store and building of utilitarian design, reminiscent of a hall of residence.

“This will be in stark contrast to the charm of East Lodge and Stokes Lacey and all other buildings in the immediate vicinity.”

A resident from Wilmslow Park North said: “My main concern is the traffic pulling out onto a dangerous corner of Adlington Road.

“Vehicles waiting to turn out of Wilmslow Park North are already in a challenging position, and additional traffic will increase the risk.

“There is very little parking in this area, and contractors and site visitors would not be able to park on Wilmslow Park North.

“Additional traffic through Wilmslow Park, which the development may attract, would only add to the already present risks to cyclists and pedestrians.”

A Blenheim Close resident said: “Although there are three less flats, parking space has been proportionately reduced.

“It still does not take account of visitors overflow parking in a location where there is no safe or legitimate on-road parking.

“Adlington Road is not a safe or suitable place to park, especially because of the proximity to a sharp bend, which would leave the temptation for visitors to park in Wilmslow Park North.

“The latter is not only a private road but is also governed by a Prohibition of Entry Order.

“Such parking would cause an obstruction in Wilmslow Park North, an inconvenience to those who live nearby, a danger to pedestrians obliged to walk in the road by cars parking on the footway and more stationary traffic on the blind bend waiting to enter.”

A Wilmslow Park North resident said: “There are 21 parking spaces allocated, which makes no provision for guests and visitors.

“This would force vehicles with no available parking space to park in the road and would therefore be harmful to the visual amenity of the area and highway safety.

“The only practical parking outside of the development if no spaces are available is in Wilmslow Park, and in particular Wilmslow Park North, a narrow, residential, private road with only one pavement.

“The proposal is clearly overdevelopment of the site and out of scale with the surrounding built environment.”

A Yew Tree Close resident said: “The ingress and egress to the site by residents of the apartments presents a real risk to cars and other vehicles travelling especially northwards on Adlington Road across the bridge and entrance to Wilmslow Road North.

“The increase of traffic is very marked due to housing built and being constructed in the near vicinity.

“This development will increase the risk of road accidents in the immediate vicinity.”

The target date for a decision on the scheme is January 17.