A LARGE Ilkley home could be flattened to make way for a development of apartments.

A new planning application submitted to Bradford Council calls for the demolition of Robin Hood, a house on Clifford Road, and sitting within the Middleton Conservation Area of Ilkley.

In its place a modern building made up of nine apartments aimed at “older generations” would be built.

Submitted by the Bankhead Group, the planning application says: “The proposed new apartment building , whilst differing in style and scale to its predecessor, has been designed sensitively to lessen its visual impact both on the site and in the context of the surrounding Conservation Area.

“Its contemporary design takes cues both in style and materials from other buildings within the area whilst maintaining its own identity as a building ‘of its time’.”

It adds: “The proposal aims to provide private accommodation for people of older generations most probably downsizing from larger properties in the local area, allowing them to remain in a familiar community.”

The flats would all be two-bed, and the site would have 12 on-site parking spaces.

The application has attracted a number of objections, including a formal objection by near neighbours Philip and Adelina Lees, of Rupert Road, Ilkley.

They said: "Our concern is not that the site is to be redeveloped but rather the scale of redevelopment that is proposed. In simple terms the proposed new building will comprise nine flats each with two bedrooms, living, dining and kitchen areas, a new road access onto Clifford Road and twelve car parking spaces.

"The key issues to be considered are in our opinion the following:

• Over intensification of the use of the site and the associated increase in traffic movements and noise

• Excessive scale, mass and height of the proposed building in the context of adjacent buildings and their surroundings

• Lack of regard for the design of existing buildings in the proposed external design treatment

• Potential for loss of privacy and overshadowing of adjacent properties."

Nine objections had formally been lodged against the proposal online at the time of going to press. Comments can be made by the public until June 29.

The planning application number is 22/01961/FUL and can be viewed on the Bradford Planning Portal at www.bradford.gov.uk

A decision on the application is expected to be made by Bradford Council late next month.