Plans to turn a former Mitsubishi car showroom into flats are set for approval despite traffic fears and claims the block will be an “unsightly eyesore”.

The Grosvenor Garage on St James’ Road, Tunbridge Wells, is slated to become a three-and-four-storey block of 24 apartments.

Tunbridge Wells council officers are recommending councillors back the bid.

The site, which has been vacant since last year, is also close to a plot on Medway Road, which is being developed into a five-storey block of 35 apartments.

The block is set to contain five one-bed, seven two-bed, nine three-bed and three four-bed flats.

Documents prepared by architects Innes Associates, state: “The scheme aims to optimise the site capacity but to do it in a way that is sensitive to the local context and takes account of the neighbouring properties.

“It provides attractive, modern flats that respond to the requirements of contemporary life in

Tunbridge Wells but also creates a recognisable relationship to the local context.

To maintain the privacy of the rear of the existing properties on Quarry Road and Stratford Street, the flats in the new block have living rooms pointed towards the street and bedrooms towards the back gardens.

The developers also boast of their environmental credentials, citing “high performance of building fabric”, electric car charging points and “air source heat pumps” for heating, removing the need for gas in the building.”

However, some aren’t happy about the scheme, with 39 objections written to the council’s planning department.

Mary Preston wrote that the multi-storey building “would totally spoil the lovely St James neighbourhood” and create “an unsightly eyesore which would be another embarrassment to the town”.

She also raised fears of “obvious parking problems”, and suggested the developers revise the existing plans to put “little new build terrace houses” on Stratford Street and St James Road which would “pleasantly blend in” with the existing area.

Ella Charlton also objected to the scheme, adding: “There are so many new developments being built in the area that we see this as completely unnecessary.

“The roads in the immediate area, as well as surrounding amenities cannot support a higher density of residents; especially considering there is a large block of flats going up directly opposite the planned site already.

“Severe congestion is already an issue in the area which will just be exacerbated with the building of this development,” Ms Charlton added.

Emilie Dupuy told the planning department that as it stands, her house gets no sun from the back during the winter months.

She claims that if a four-storey plus building is built opposite her house, they “would get approximately two hours of sun” per day.

“The consequences will be that we would live most of our winter days in the dark, and by not benefitting from sun we would have to increase our heating consumption.”

Another 90 year-old resident expressed similar fears, writing “we have such buildings to the rear of our houses, so we do not see the sun for six months of the year”.

The council’s planning committee are set to vote on the plans at a meeting on Wednesday May 17.