A plan to build homes near a town’s high street has been described by the developer as a sympathetic proposal for a derelict site hit by anti-social behaviour, but has drawn objections from residents.

Marian Construction has applied for planning permission to build seven homes – a terrace of five houses and two semi-detached bungalows – on land west of The Granary, High Street, Yarm. The applicant says vehicles would get to the site via The Old Market or a private road from Bentley Wynd, creating a one-way through route, with a pedestrian entrance via an archway.

Architect Elle-May Simmonds from agent Logic Architecture says in a heritage statement: “The proposal seeks to develop an area of vacant land located to the rear of Yarm High Street, between Bentley Wynd and The Old Market. The site area is 0.5 acres and will be developed to include a through route access road.”

The site is in the Yarm conservation area. However the developer says the new homes will be out of public view.

The agent says: “Critically the conservation area, but in particular the surrounding listed buildings will not be visually impacted by the proposal by virtue of the fact that the scale is less than or equal to the surrounding architecture. In reality the proposed buildings will all be largely hidden from the public highway and thus be out of public view.

“The proposed architectural style of the new dwellings will compliment that of the existing buildings. Inspired by their Victorian features, the proposal will not detract from the general feel or appearance of the historic town.”

It argues the homes will be “a sympathetic and considered addition to the town” which would “enhance the area and tidy up an unutilised part of Yarm”. It adds it will be “necessary” to fell three trees but this will be compensated by planting new species and vegetation: “Efforts have been made to enhance the retained landscaping and biodiversity of the site through a new landscaping proposal… to encourage flora and fauna.”

The plan has drawn comments and objections. One referred to the possibility of access through Lord Nelsons Yard, with an objector saying it would change “one of Yarm’s few remaining ancient residential yards” from a quiet, secluded area to a passageway or alleyway, unnecessarily exposing residents to risk of nuisance and anti-social behaviour.

Another expressed concerns about privacy and security, writing to the council: “Lord Nelsons Yard is a yard. It is not a road. It is not a street. It is not a lane. It is not a wynd and it is not a through route. It is unlit. It is unpaved.

“From what appears to be a suggestion to convert this into an access/through route for residents of the newly constructed seven homes to lead to the High Street, there are no details within the plan for this proposed change of use.

“For over 20 years and with various owners’ permissions, I have cleared, developed and maintained this land as a sitting/leisure area… I have had, on occasions over the years to involve the police as a result of infiltrators to my garden.

“I have found money, mobile phones, wallets, shoes, ladies’ underwear etc. This is a result of people thinking it’s an access route. It is most disconcerting to a senior citizen and I fear, having a recognised through route would exacerbate the situation.”

One High Street resident raised issues of hazardous access and congestion at Bentley Wynd, saying the area could not support both a car park and access road. Another correspondent said the plans requested pedestrian, not vehicular, access through an archway which was used for temporary vehicle visits by owners and tradesmen but “would be far too small and narrow to be available for use by any new neighbours in the proposed development.

“There would certainly be damage done to the two grade II listed buildings on either side if many more vehicles use it.”

Another respondent described the parking provision as excessive and disproportionate and said the proposals would lead to overcrowding and overdevelopment, harm trees and green spaces, could damage a historic wall, put strain on roads and infrastructure and rob residents of privacy. One Yarm resident said he supported the development generally as it appeared to fit the style of existing homes but strongly objected to it extending over a row of trees and shrubs.

Other concerns included building on an “untouched green space for some 129 years”, tight and obstructed access, nearby listed buildings, the partial destruction of a wall, passageway misuse and drainage.

A spokesman for Marian Developments responded: “We are very aware that this derelict site has attracted anti-social behaviour in the past which would be avoided if the site was developed to provide much-needed high-quality housing including two bungalows.

“We can confirm access will utilise two existing highway junctions with a pedestrian-only link to the high street.

“The top of the site already has planning permission for development but this scheme is for a more traditional design and is more sympathetic to the architectural style of terrace houses in Yarm.”