FLATS planned for a conservation area face opposition from neighbours.

A van hire site in Holland Road, Hove, is the proposed location for a four-storey block of nine two-bedroomed flats with ground floor office space by Perth Group Holdings.

The block would be between the locally listed Hove Hebrew Congregation synagogue and Grade II listed Palmeira Yard in the Brunswick Town Conservation Area.

A previous application for a four-storey block of nine flats was rejected on appeal in 2017 as it “would substantially and harmfully diminish the perception and attractiveness of Palmeira Yard”.

The application by developer Perth Group Holdings says the new scheme seeks to address the planning inspector’s concerns.

The company said: “The proposed development will be replacing the existing office building with a high-quality, contemporary design, which is designed to be sensitive to the historic surroundings of the listed buildings and Brunswick Town Conservation Area.

“As a result, the proposed development would have a positive impact on the setting of adjacent listed buildings at Holland Road as well as this part of the Brunswick Town Conservation Area.”

There are 36 objections on Brighton and Hove City Council’s website, many citing concerns about the impact on the listed buildings in the area.

One said: “The proposed development is completely unsympathetic to the streetscape and the surrounding heritage buildings and out of scale.

“They must fit in to a conservation/heritage area by being built in the same style. They should look like they have been there since the beginning of the neighbourhood.”

Another said: “It is inappropriate to build a four-storey building on the site clashing and degrading the heritage of the adjacent buildings.

“The excessive height will lead adjoining residents to suffer overshadowing, overlooking and loss of privacy since the proposed building will back directly onto the gardens of Lansdowne Street and overlook the rear of Palmeira Yard.”