TREES will be planted to help shield Cowley residents from a new community centre that will tower over their homes.

Work is under way to transform the former Cowley Community Centre site in Barns Road into 40 flats and community rooms.

Residents living behind the centre, in Knolles Road, have raised concerns over the height of the new building after fears their privacy will be invaded.

It comes after developer GreenSquare’s revealed its plans included a roof-top garden.

Chairman of Middle Cowley Residents’ Action Group Martin Tasker said: “The height of the building is a problem. The privacy of people in Knolles Road is long gone now.”

The former community centre building was demolished in May 2009 after being deemed unsafe, leaving local people without a hub for more than six years.

Work on the development, which will also include a community garden and a shop for charity Emmaus, began last September and is expected to be completed in November.

GreenSquare consulted with residents living near to the former community centre about trees it wants to plant as part of a requirement of its planning permission.

Residents were shown images of how trees planted between the back of the new build and residents’ back gardens would look once planted, at a meeting last Thursday at Crowell Road’s Ark T Centre.

But Mr Tasker said residents were worried the trees will block light into their gardens and homes when they grow to their 10m height.

He said residents surrounding the new building were concerned people in the flats would be able to peer into their gardens, living rooms and bedrooms.

Mr Tasker said the trees will have a “slight effect” but developers could consider planting climbers and creepers to “soften” the height of the building.

City councillor for Cowley David Henwood said he has been working with residents and developers to tackle concerns.

He added: “It’s not a very comfortable place to be in the back garden when you are trying to enjoy peace and quiet at the weekend, when your peace and quiet is being invaded.”

GreenSquare head of development Jo Curson said: “This is a positive scheme, providing a landmark building to improve the Cowley centre. We have welcomed feedback from residents throughout the development, and we continue to address any concerns they might have.”