Plans to build 20 luxury canal-side apartments in the garden of an historic Bingley home have prompted objections from neighbours.

A planning application has been submitted to develop the garden of Elmfield House, on Bromley Road, which backs onto the Leeds-Liverpool canal into a curved terraced block of two-bedroom apartments.

The late 19th century house, which has been converted into five apartments, is close to the canal's famous Five Rise Locks and near the Locks canal-side development.

Objectors to the plans were meeting last night to express concerns about the proposal.

Dr Steven Peacey, who lives with partner Caroline Bedford next to Elmfield House, said: "The plans are considered outrageous by all of the neighbours who shall all be affected by this monstrosity.

"Not only will the proposal devastate an area of natural beauty and history, it effectively ruins the wonderful views, extensive wildlife and will disturb protected native bat habitats.

"It is a high density development in what is traditionally an area of beauty and tranquillity."

The objectors have written to local councillors and Shipley MP Chris Leslie to ask for their support.

Councillor Colin Gill (Cons, Bingley) stressed the plans were in their early stages and had yet to be agreed by planning officers.

He said: "I shall be opposing any plans to put a block of flats on the site. A huge new development would be totally out of keeping with the local area and would have a significant and negative impact upon the local environment."

But applicant Frank Kuhne defended the plans. He said the nearby Locks development had been a key consideration in the design of his scheme and the apartment block would be in keeping with that.

He said: "This would be a mere fraction of that development which has more than 100 units. To describe this development as a monstrosity is exaggerated talk.

"The disturbance to the tranquillity and the beauty of the area by this development would be insignificant compared with what has already been erected."

Mr Kuhne said he would be undertaking extensive landscaping at the site and, if there were any protected species affected by the development, he would be glad to take measures to safeguard them, for example by installing bat boxes.

He added he intended to upgrade the unadopted road at Plevna Terrace to the benefit of the residents.

Part of the site falls into the Leeds and Liverpool Canal conservation area and it is close to a site of ecological and geological interest.

But it is unallocated in Bradford Council's unitary development plan.

The plans will be determined by Shipley Area Planning Panel.