MORE than 130 extra care homes are proposed on a city car park.Š

The application has been submitted by the Arena Housing Group on the Northgate Avenue car park.Š

The Liverpool based housing association has told planning officers at Cheshire West and Chester Council it is seeking approval for 131 residential apartments, communal and day care facilities, car parking and communal gardens and grounds.Š

The three acre car park is owned by Cheshire West and Chester Council, according to a report.Š

In 2006, West Cheshire College was refused permission for a controversial new campus on the site.Š

The homes, for over 55s, would include one and two-bedroom apartments in two buildings up to four storeys in height.Š

They would be linked by a bridge.Š

Facilities would include a bistro and dining rooms, a hairdresser's salon, therapy, craft, library and IT rooms, lounges, a residents' laundry and a scooter and shop mobility store.Š

The on-site facilities, such as the bistro, library and hairdressers, would be available to the wider community, councillors are due to hear at a planning committee meeting on Tuesday (January 17).Š

The intention is the extra care would complement existing services in the area rather than become an 'inaccessible development' on the edge of the city centre.Š

Planners have had three letters from local people, all of which object.Š

Occupiers believe the development would be too large end would lead to the risk of pedestrian safety issues on Northgate Avenue and Victoria Road.Š

They fear a reduction in car parking for the Northgate Arena would cause overspill parking on nearby roads and believe a new access for Network Rail would be too close to homes, particularly when used at anti social hours in the night.Š

Eighty per cent of the homes would be affordable, the report points out.Š

The borough council believes there is an annual need for over 1,300 affordable dwellings in Cheshire West and Chester.Š

Following public consultation, the architects revised the plans, councillors will be told.

Recommending the application should be approved, planning officers believe the development would not have an unacceptable detrimental effect on the wider surrounding area.Š

They are suggesting 37 conditions should be met as part of any permission including a £125,000 payment towards improved pedestrian crossing facilities on ŠSt Oswald’s Way.

The application is due to be considered by the planning committee at 4pm on Tuesday. It will be held in HQ.