RESIDENTS are fighting plans to increase the height of two apartment blocks as part of an £18 million development in Altrincham.

Paul Butler Associates, on behalf of agent Real Estate Investment (Altrincham) Ltd, is applying to vary planning permission which was granted for 80 St John's Road.

The plans include the demolition of former YWCA Hostel and redevelopment of site with 34 apartments and six mews houses, with associated car parking (80 spaces) and landscaping.

Real Estate wants to increase the height of apartments by 730mm (Block A) and 655mm (Block B), extend the basement parking area and amend the parking layout and re-position the mews houses 1.5m from the St John's Court boundary.

Objections have been submitted to Trafford Council planners by Ian Allan, chairman of St John's Court, on behalf of six residents. They object to the increase in height of the blocks by more than 2ft which would further overshadow the light for residents.

He also complained that an extension to an underground car park would substantially increase existing problems with traffic along St John's Road and Ashley Road.

Another resident complained that the site had been over-developed.

The new properties were on the market for between £300,000 and £800,000.

The applicant says the height had increase above that of the approved scheme because of providing adequate cover for the retained trees on the site, which, in turn, resulted in the basement entrance ramp being unable to clear the ground floor.

The applicant further concluded that the increase in height would not have any more of an impact on the amenity of neighbouring residents.