PLANS to demolish a semi-detached house in Malvern's Conservation Area and replace it with a block of 11 apartments have been attacked by neighbours.

The application by Jonathan Roe calls for the flats to be built on land currently occupied by the house, called Northcot, in Como Road.

Gerry Nash, who also lives in Como Road, said: "It will completely overshadow my property and will block out sunshine and my view of the Malvern Hills.

"Building something that's in scale with the Conservation Area is one thing, but this is a complete overdevelopment. "

Bob Tilley of Albert Road North said that the proposed building is two to three stories high at the front and three to four stories at the back.

He said: "The proposed development is much denser than the neighbouring properties, replacing one small semi-detached house with 11 apartments.

"The block will severely reduce the sunlight into our property. Due to its height and location so far back in the garden it will block sunlight into our property from 2 or 3pm each day.

"The development conflicts with the Great Malvern Conservation Area policy for large widely spaced properties similar to those neighbouring this site."

But not all local residents are against the plan. John Cary of Como Road said: "The design appears to be relatively sympathetic and not overly dominant, bearing in mind the rather large houses in Como Road."

And Alec Newton of Victoria Road said: "I don't think by any stretch of the imagination that it's an overdevelopment."

Applicant Jonathan Roe and his agents BPL Architecture of Tewkesbury this week declined to comment.