A controversial Cockermouth homes plan has been 'called in', Cumberland Council confirmed yesterday.
The town centre plan for the Station Road site prompted a huge outcry - with people saying it will have a detrimental impact on woodland, wildlife and roads.
Others claim the plans are unsightly and there is no demand for more homes in town.
Dobies Cumbria Properties Ltd has applied to Cumberland Council for full planning permission to build a further 10 apartments and six houses on its Station Road site.
Forty two trees are set to be felled, according to the application.
The deadline to submit comments regarding it has been extended to July 5.
The town council has recommended the application be refused on various grounds, including overdevelopment and the effect on woodland. Councillors called for the proposed apartment block to be reduced from four to three storeys.
The company bought the former county fire headquarters and land in 2015, paying about £2m for the 3.8-acre site. It later went on to turn the derelict building into apartments.
More than 170 people have written to the council in opposition.
Cockermouth Civic Trust has objected to the plans for the six houses 'which appear to take no account of the site context'.
"The scale, positioning and architectural style of the six plots sit incongruously within the existing and proposed site to create a very confused and poor built environment," said a spokesman.
The trust is also concerned by the proposed crowning and reduction of tree line, particularly along the south boundary.
"Such an alteration to a dominant green skyline will have a negative visual impact from many vantage points within the town including from the conservation area and Harris Park."
One resident wrote to the council: "My family would like to object to the building of more flats in what is a beautiful, calm woodland area in the centre of town.
"The Sidings is an important access point into town for everyone using the Greenway - it is bursting with wildlife.
"As the developer is very aware, the site would be destroying essential habitats of bats, squirrels and other small native species, and destroying trees that have taken decades to reach their present height.
"The location is one of the busiest junctions at this side of Cockermouth. Adding yet another large development would make it a very dangerous place for residents to cross the road."
Another said: "The impact of removing deciduous woodland is vast; to wildlife, the climate, potential flooding and neighbours who lose their privacy. The trees which are to be felled make up a large proportion of the woodland within Cockermouth.
"Lots of the flats which have already been renovated in the old fire station HQ appear to be uninhabited which further shows the lack of need."
A resident wrote: "The new apartment block would be too high and an eyesore in our Gem Town, totally not in keeping with traditional buildings."
Another one added: "It is ridiculous to consider chopping down mature trees that have grown on the edge of Harris Park for years to facilitate a bland block of over-priced flats which add nothing to the character of our beautiful town.
"This is especially true since there is no demand for those flats."
On resident said: "I object to this development on the grounds of the height of the buildings, the unmitigated detriment to local flora and fauna, the loss of amenity to people using the adjoining park and cumulative increase of traffic on junctions at the top of station road, especially given the proximity to local schools."
One asked: "I'm curious as to why a new block of 10 apartments is needed on the site when there appears to be very limited occupancy of the 23 flats within the former Fire Service HQ."
Someone said: "The proposed houses will seriously encroach on Harris Park and will have a detrimental effect on trees and wildlife. This is a terrible idea!"
In response, Bill Dobie said: “All observations are covered in the professional consultants’ various reports. These were compiled in partnership with then ABC planning authority.
“The development will provide dramatically improved longevity to the tress for the next 50 years for future generations. Most are strangling each other currently as self-seeded with little or no meadow land.”
A Cumberland Council spokesman said: "Once the application is ready for determination, it will be taken to the planning committee agenda setting meeting, where the chair of planning committee and the head of service will confirm if the application is to be considered at Planning Committee and the date of the planning meeting."
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