A proposal for new flats just off Winckley Square has been dismissed as ‘strident’ by planning officers.

Preston City Council looks set not to allow a proposal to bring a mothballed plan to demolish a former sports hall and replace with flats back to life.

The site in Garden Street saw plans lodged for the first time in seven years in summer last year.

Northern Estates applied to build a six storey building with 41 apartments contained within.

However, with objections received from nearby residents, planning officers have recommended the scheme be refused.

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They state: “It is considered that the proposed building would be of an inadequate design which would form an incongruous and strident feature within the street scene.

“The proposed design of the building would fail to respect the character and appearance of the area and would not preserve or enhance the Winckley Square Conservation Area.”

Another section of the officers report brands the proposal as ‘alien’.

The sports hall was used by Cardinal Newman College and was built in the late 1960s.

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1618 Architects said on tabling the plans: “The scheme is intended to be sympathetically designed to respect its context and neighbours in terms of both detail and design and to deal with issues such as rights to light, amenity and overlooking. The scheme also seeks to provide a building of a quality design in the existing urban townscape and one that is appropriate in terms of mass and scale.”

Two letters of objection were received stating the density of the flats was too high, raising traffic issues and no provision for car parking.

Councillors are due to meet on Thursday 8 February to hear the proposals at the city council’s planning committee.

What do you think of the council officers comments? Should the scheme be refused or allowed to go ahead? Let us know your views in the comments below