A YORK charity which failed to win over city planners with a vision to build new sheltered homes for elderly people has lodged a fresh bid.

Residential care organisation The Abbeyfield York Society hopes to create 22 flats in the grounds of Abbeyfield House at Regency Mews, Dringhouses.

The venture aims to meet a need in York for older people who can afford their own home, but need support and care.

The society withdrew its original application when planning officers recommended refusal.

They cited concerns about the height of the proposed three-storey building, its "size, massing and proximity to residential properties" as well as the felling of trees, including an ash and a sycamore with tree preservation orders.

Abbeyfield York Society board member Ros Batchelor, a chartered town planner, said neighbours had been invited to inspect the revised application at a meeting at Regency Mews on Wednesday evening.

"The changes may seem quite subtle, but they are significant," she said.

"We have reduced the number of car parking spaces by five so there are now 17. That means that some apple trees don't have to be felled.

"We have lowered the building into the ground by half a metre so it is significant in changing the line of the roof. And we have reduced the roof at the Regency Mews end and put two of the flats into the roof so it lowers the building."

The new flats are part of the society's six-year development plan which would also see the creation of a care service to increase the level of support provided.

"We are planning to set up our own care service," explained Ms Batchelor.

"We won't have carers coming by car - our staff will be on site, and they already walk or come by bike."

The applicants have also provided a statement to shed light on the current traffic and parking situation and the likely change.

"We don't think it will be very dramatic. The people who will buy these flats may be in their 70s and 80s. We think car ownership will be under 50 per cent."

Opposition to the original scheme also came from Dringhouses and Woodthorpe planning panel, concerned about the size of the building while local residents penned 54 letters to the council.

Issues raised included the loss of green space and wildlife habitat, and the potential increase in traffic.

Residents have until November 9 to make any new comments to the council.

Updated: 10:08 Monday, October 25, 2004