Residents and community groups are fighting a housing development scheme on the former Greggs bakery factory on the banks of the River Crane.

Two planning applications have been submitted for the scheme in the centre of Twickenham, which includes two apartment blocks with one 5 storeys high.

However, there have been more than 120 objections from residents and others who say the scheme represents a massive over-development.

They have raised concerns about a lack of privacy and loss of light, given one of the blocks is said to tower over the back gardens of neighbouring two-storey Victorian homes.

There are also fears about a large increase in traffic through the neighbouring narrow streets.

Environmental groups say the scheme – as it stands – fails to take advantage of the possibility of returning the neighbouring River Crane to its natural state.

It has been argued that the river's existing concrete panel sides should be removed to allow a more natural appearance with planting and associated wildlife.

There are also calls to install a new footbridge to create an access and walking route to neighbouring green spaces towards the Mereway Nature Reserve and Kneller Gardens.

The two planning applications have been lodged by London Square Developments Ltd. The proposals will add either 97 or 116 residential units alongside some commercial buildings.

A group of residents in neighbouring Gould Road have lodged a joint objection.

They complain that two blocks of apartments - Block F and Block G – are too big and too close to their homes.

They said: "Our main concern with the proposal is its proposed density of development as a whole and how this will

result in a cramped over-development of the site – the developers are simply trying to squeeze too many houses and flats on this site.

"Block F is too big, will dwarf the surrounding buildings and there are no precedents set with local equivalence. There is nothing like Block F's height or massing anywhere near other 2 storey Victorian terraces locally."

The FORCE group, Friends of the River Crane Environment, has raised a series of objections.

It said: "Our overriding aspirations are that this once-in-a-century opportunity to re-naturalise the River Crane at this

location is seized, and that public access to the river corridor here, on both banks, is greatly enhanced with an integrated, holistic approach.

"Redevelopment of the former Gregg's site provides an unprecedented opportunity to access the river channel for both investigative and restorational works, on both banks.

"If the opportunity is not taken now, with this development, then the Crane will continue here in its biodiversity-stultifying over-widened concrete channel for generations to come, selling the environment and local residents short on a shameful scale."