RESIDENTS have lost their battle to stop another block of flats being built in Portishead’s High Street.

Churchill Retirement Living has been granted permission to build 58 apartments on the Grange Farm site next to the Corner Caf� and behind White Cot Stores.

In 2008 an application for outline planning permission to construct 30 homes on the land was met with outrage from the Portishead community who are desperately trying to protect the town’s heritage.

There was more public outcry when the full planning application was submitted, detailing plans for almost double the number of homes.

With 14 formal letters of objection and Portishead Town Council also objecting to the plans, the application was rejected by North Somerset Council. The application however has now been adjusted to take in to consideration some of the concerns raised by objectors.

Amendments now made include an increase in parking spaces, alterations to the position of a turning point and a 106 development agreement which includes �200,000 towards affordable housing schemes.

Much of the site, which comprised of barns, a farmhouse and grazing land, will be consumed by two and three-storey buildings. The barns have already been demolished, but the farmhouse remains and will be renovated and incorporated into the development.

Red shutters which now surround the site are expected to remain in place until the development nears completion.

Lucy Mathews, speaking for Churchill Retirement Living said: “Work on 58 sheltered apartments at 176 High Street, Portishead, is intended to commence in spring 2012.”