TENTATIVE plans to build a four-storey apartment block on the site of a Brentwood town centre church have left residents horrified.
Householders in Primrose Hill say the proposal, in which a mix of 18 one, two and three-bedroom flats would be built on the site of Breakthru Church, would lead to a loss of privacy and cause parking problems in the area.
They also believe a development of the size proposed would not be in keeping with the character of the area.
Jennifer Daly has lived next door to the church for the past 20 years with her husband John.
Speaking to the Gazette after viewing the proposal at an open day held at the church last week, she said: "We are shocked at the unprecedented height, scale and out-of-character style of the proposed development for the size of plot.
"There is no parking provided for any of the 19 apartments and no consideration has been given to the construction process on a busy junction between Crown Street and Primrose Hill.
"We are very distressed about the loss of privacy that would result from living next door to a proposed four-storey block of apartments only 1.3 metres from our boundaries with windows and balconies directly overlooking our property.
"It is upsetting to think that any developer, which we understand to be Breakthru Church itself, would even consider presenting a plan with such disregard for the impact on the quality of life of the surrounding neighbours.
"We are encouraged to see how other residents equally horrified have immediately rallied round to offer support and have grouped together to campaign for the sensible development of the Crown Street/Primrose Hill site."
She added: "We are keen that the developer will now rethink and come back with some drastically revised plans more in keeping with the area."
Another Primrose Hill resident, Natalie Ludwig, 35, said: "The building proposed would be a monstrosity.
"It is huge and totally out of character for Primrose Hill and it is not in keeping with the other flats in the immediate area."
Dean Kitchener, pastor at the Pentecostal church, said the proposal stemmed from the fact that the church is no longer big enough for his congregation.
In a bid to find new premises, he is working with a Yorkshire-based firm called ProVision UK, which specialises in this field.
Mr Kitchener said: "We are in the pre-planning stage so nothing has been set in stone.
"However, we are in a position where the church is experiencing growth.
"We don't use the church building on a Sunday morning any more because it is too small for us and at the same time we are expanding the community things that we do so the capacity of the church is starting to limit how effective we can be."
He added: "When it comes to a development I don't think you are ever going to make everyone happy so it is about finding the right balance for the site."
Simon Brenchley, managing director of Huddersfield-based ProVision UK, said the firm hoped to submit a planning application for the site to Brentwood Borough Council before or shortly after Christmas.
He stressed the exact mix of one, two and three bedroom apartments had yet to be decided, before adding that the firm had listened to residents' views when the proposal was exhibited at the church last week.
He added: "We wanted to be proactive and we were thanked for doing that.
"We are also very sensitive about this kind of thing and have already taken on board some of the concerns people raised."
Following the proposal, Primrose Hill residents set up a pressure group calling for sustainable development in the area.
For more information, e-mail sensibledevelopment@hotmail.co.uk
