Frodsham residents have until 11 June to comment on a planning application seeking to redevelop scrubland to the rear of Moor Lane to provide a four storey apartment building for retirement living.

The 69-apartment development would accommodate 120 bed spaces, 57 car parking spaces and landscaped gardens, as well as a flat and office for the complex warden, communal lounge, wellness studio, laundry room and mobility scooter store.

Most of the apartments would have access to private balcony areas as well as the garden space, which would be required to contain five bat boxes and six bird boxes to help conserve the site's existing biodiversity.

Moor Lane car park would also be retained, with 10 extra spaces being added to make for a total of 47.

The applicants, Pure Retirement Living (Frodsham) Ltd. and Morbaine Ltd., states that this would be an "effective and efficient use of vacant, underused land within the Settlement Boundary of Frodsham."

"The proposal could free-up under-occupied local housing for other population groups and increase the housing choice for local residents whilst allowing them to maintain their independence.

"The existing public car park is to be enhanced and its capacity increased which will support the vitality of the Frodsham Town Centre as a commercial hub.

"Improved landscaped space including the planting of native trees would enhance biodiversity."

A historic buildings report related to the application has stated that the proposed development represents "less than substantial harm" to the character and appearance of the surrounding buildings, which are located in Frodsham Conservation Area.

Several comments about the application have already been lodged, including an objection from a public rights of way asset management officer, who stated that the proposal's transport assessment failed to identify Moor Lane as a restricted byway.

This limits motor vehicle access to drivers with a private easement or special rights, meaning that all traffic visiting the site would need to obtain such permission before work began on the development.

Residents can find out more about the application here.

Although the site is currently scrubland, it did secure planning permission for the erection of 60 dwelling units with car parking and associated facilities back in 2003.

Meanwhile, in 1994, a proposal to build 50 houses was refused.