Neighbours fear plans to convert a vacant Forest of Dean school into eight flats and a house will worsen local parking problems.
Heffter & Heffter Ltd is seeking permission to change the use of St Anthony’s School in Belle Vue Road, Cinderford.
They want to turn the closed school into seven self-contained two-bedroom apartments, one self-contained one-bedroom apartment and a five-room home of multiple occupancy.
Consultants working on the scheme say the external appearance of the buildings will not change dramatically as a result of the proposed development.
They say the school has been closed for some time and the buildings currently stand empty.
Before the development of the school, the site was originally occupied by residential houses which were extended and linked as the school evolved over the years.
Consultants also say the proposed apartments vary in size but are all well-proportioned and well above the Government’s minimum space standards.
However, 16 residents along with Cinderford Town Council have objected to the proposals.
Neighbours say more housing is not required in the area and the lack of sufficient parking is dangerous, and that parking is already an issue with Flaxley Street and Belle Vue Road.
Cinderford town councillors also strongly objected to the plans over parking.
“There is no public parking area and no vehicle access to the site,” a council spokesperson said.
“There is concern for large vehicle and emergency vehicle access using Belle Vue Road.”
Forest of Dean District Council officers have recommended approval of the plans but it will be up to councillors to make the decision.
The officers said they consider the proposal to be a sustainable development and that it should be approved subject to conditions.
A planning committee is due to debate the scheme at a district council meeting on November 9.
By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter