Controversial plans to build a block of apartments up to six storeys high in Grangetown are set to be given the go-ahead despite protests from more than 100 people.

Plans by Rightacres to build a complex of 74 flats at the former Track 2000 warehouse site have been recommended for approval by Cardiff council's planning department.

A report which will go before the council's Planning Committee next week says the plans "respond positively to the scale of the character of its setting" - despite long-standing concerns from residents that the building will be overbearing.

Residents also say the development - which would be named Bottle Works Wharf - would be out of character with the rest of the area and lead to the loss of light and privacy to neighbouring properties.

They are also concerned about the increased traffic being brought to the area and noise and light pollution coming from the flats.

Rightacres has previously said Bottle Works Wharf would be a "significant investment" in Grangetown and would help people live in the city centre, reducing the number of cars travelling into Cardiff.

Cardiff council's Planning Committee will consider the plans on June 19.

Plans for the Track 2000 site in Grangetown

Wendy Lloyd, who lives next to the site in Pentre Gardens, said she was very disappointed by the council officer's recommendations.

She said: "We don't feel that the planning department has really considered the objections we have put in.

"Grangetown is a traditional area and we're concerned it's an over-development of the site.

"We've got nothing against rented apartments. We just feel this is too many in one small space. It's cramming in an awful lot of people into one small space."

Rightacres commissioned a study last year, by McCann and Partners, which found the Bottle Works Wharf development would not have significant impacts on the daylight or sunlight of neighbouring properties.

But another review commissioned by neighbours who disputed the findings found there would be "significant" loss of sunlight from the kitchens of some properties as a result of the proposed building.

The review, which was paid for by Rightacres, questioned the methodology and conclusions of the original daylight study.

Simon Newman, who also lives in Pentre Gardens, said: "The development will affect the whole character of the area. It will dominate the skyline, it's overbearing.

"It's going to be a very imposing building and a very busy entrance to our street. It's just going to be an eyesore affecting our daily lives."

Rightacres has since reduced the height of the sunlight building by 75cm in an effort to improve sunlight to neighbouring properties.

The plans have been significantly scaled down as Rightacres was originally proposing a development of 86 flats across a development of up to seven storeys.

The new Bottle Works Wharf development

The planning department's report says the development would result in overshadowing for neighbouring properties in the mornings but "from late morning onwards the Pentre Gardens properties and their gardens will not experience any reduction in sunlighting".

Cardiff council's planning officers also concluded the development the "does not cause significant harm to the levels of privacy enjoyed by neighbouring occupiers".

There are 57 parking spaces planned in the area - but residents say Bottle Works Wharf could bring as many as 148 more vehicles to the area.

Residents have also criticised the apparent loss of several trees along the embankment in the updated plans.

More than 130 residents have written to Cardiff council objecting to the development, as have councillors Ashley Lister and Lynda Thorne, AMs Vaughan Gething and Neil McEvoy, and MP Steven Doughty.

Mr Gething said: "The scale and height of the 5/6 storey building will have an impact on the residents of Pentre Street, with a possibility of all their gardens being overlooked and overshadowed by the development, including reduced light levels.

"Residents have concerns that the scale and design of the proposed development is out of keeping with the existing residential character of the area."

Rightacres is also behind plans to redevelop the Brains Brewery site across the river, which would involve 1,000 apartments, 50 bars and restaurants, offices, a new university campus and a multi-storey car park, and Cardiff's new bus station. 

The Local Democracy Reporting Service has contacted Rightacres for comment.