ARCHITECTS are going back to the drawing board with plans to redevelop a prime Kendal town centre site, which has been vacant for eight years following a huge blaze.

South Lakeland District planners will tomorrow, Thursday, discuss proposals for a seven-storey complex of retirement flats on the former St George's theatre site off Blackhall Road.

But there are strong concerns about the plans for 57 one and two-bedroomed retirement flats, submitted by Cheshire-based developers McCarthy and Stone Ltd.

Kendal Town Council and Kendal Civic Society have objected to the proposed building's size and scale compared with other properties in Stramongate and Blackhall Road.

Civic society spokesman Michael Bottomley said: "It will be about the same height as the multi-storey car park but it's right up against the road.

The multi-storey car park is set back.

It does not have the overbearing appearance that the complex of retirement flats would have."

Council planning officers also point out that only eight car parking spaces would be provided and the new access off Blackhall Road is very close to the traffic light junction beside the laundrette.

In a report, they say the building's design appears to be an eclectic mix of architectural styles and the use of UPVC windows and tiles on the roof are wrong within the Kendal Conservation Area.

It concludes: "The scheme as it stands is unacceptable and needs major revisions, although the principle of such a building on this site is acceptable."

McCarthy and Stone spokesman Paul Davies said: "We have had a preliminary meeting with SLDC's planning officers and agreed to look at modifications."

The St George's theatre building was razed to the ground in a blaze in February 1992 and the 1,620-metre site is now surrounded by unsightly hoardings.

Since then, the site has also been owned by Pilkington Glass, which had planning permission for 72 flats and shops at ground level.

Kendal Town Council has been keen to get the site developed as it is considered a "blight" on the town centre.

Meanwhile, councillors are recommended to turn down plans by long-established Kendal company Grosvenor House Papers, to double the size of its Westmorland Business Park premises, on highway safety grounds.

A report says access for articulated lorries should be away from the facing road junction and the existing access closed off.

The applicant's agents have been asked to revise the plans.

The paper wholesaling company - which employs 36 people and specialises in the education supplies market - is hoping to double its £5 million turnover and needs another £18,000 square feet of space.

l Councillors are also recommended to support a site visit to Lowick Beacon, Lowick, near Ulverston, where Next Generation Ltd wants to build a 65-metre-high wind turbine.

Residents in Lowick are strongly opposed because they feel it would be too ugly, a danger to low-flying aircraft and would affect house prices in the area.

They have launched a campaign and plan to bombard SLDC with protest letters.