ANGRY residents say they are devastated after councillors gave the go-ahead to a new residential care complex on their doorsteps.
A decision on the proposed scheme at the junction of Leads Road and Tweendykes Road in east Hull had been put on ice to allow developers, Riverside housing group, more time to revise the design of the building.
The move followed objections from people living nearby, who claimed a planned three-storey block overlooking existing bungalows in Tweendykes Road would be too oppressive.
Now, city councillors on the authority's planning committee have approved the new-look design, which reduces the height of the block opposite Tweendykes Road but raises another block facing Leads Road to three stories.
The split decision disappointed residents who attended the meeting to raise further objections.
Colin Semper, who lives opposite the site in Leads Road, said: "After all the work some of us have put into opposing this scheme, it is heartbreaking.
"After partially relieving issues regarding three-storey elevations in Tweendykes Road, the plans were promptly altered to further offend residents of Leads Road and Dorchester Road with the new three-storey elevations along the entire length of the Leads Road frontage.
"This is obviously a build the developers seem to be unwilling to compromise on.
"If the development does indeed require a minimum number of apartments, which is unachievable at the current site, we believe the resiting of this development would be a much better planning choice."
Gordon Wiles, of Tweendykes Road, said residents had been treated poorly by both the committee and the developers.
"We have tried to put our case but have been ignored," he said.
"Instead of integrating with the surrounding area, this totally dominates and overwhelms its surroundings."
Evelyn Moxon, who also lives in Tweendykes Road, said objections to proposals to include balconies overlooking Tweendykes Road had not been addressed.
"The whole site is being raised by 2m before building work even starts," she said.
"As a result, the balconies will be much higher than our bungalows and will be looking down on them. That cannot be right."
One of three so-called Extra Care schemes being built in Hull by Riverside, the Leads Road development will eventually include 156 one and two- bedroom apartments for elderly and disabled people.
The complex will also include a range of healthcare services for its residents.
Councillors also voted in favour of the revised design after hearing that the loss of 19 trees at the site would be compensated by an extensive planting scheme involving 108 new ones to create additional screening.
Mixed views among councillorsCOUNCILLORS were split over the care complex plans for Leads Road.
Councillor Elisa Mann voted for refusal, claiming it would create traffic congestion and parking problems in the surrounding area.
She was supported by Councillor Julia Conner, who said the scheme was too big for the site.
She said: "I just feel this site warrants something a bit smaller.
"It just feels too claustrophobic."
But a majority of councillors on the planning committee voted in favour of the application by Riverside.
Councillor John Fareham said the housing group had revised its design to address the concerns of residents.
Councillor Tom McVie said: "I now feel it is an acceptable size and height."
