RESIDENTS on an estate are set to challenge council planning officers after an investigation at a controversial flats development revealed the buildings to be higher than originally specified.

Determined residents from Lawn Drive and Field Close in Locks Heath are grouping together to attend a planning meeting about the Locks Road development on Wednesday to ask officers why they weren't aware the flats were not the correct height and what they will do to rectify it.

The block was designed to be 9.7 metres high, but investigations revealed that it was 10.4m high.

Campaigner John Bever, of Field Drive, whose house lies directly behind the Kebbell Homes development, said local people were thinking of taking legal action over the issue.

He said: "Kebbell Homes told the council that there were some 'elevation discrepancies' some time ago - but they failed to pick up on it and so the development went ahead. We are hoping that at this meeting we can campaign to get the height of the buildings reduced.

The council has said its preferred option is to plant some trees but that won't hide the fact that it has been built too high."

Residents campaigned against the controversial 17-flat and five-house development last year, claiming that it would ruin the character of the area and cram too much into the cul-de-sac.

The development has been built on a site previously occupied by three bungalows.

Now that they are almost completed and are not the right height - residents want something done. Options that will be considered for the development at the meeting will include to leave it the way it is, level off the pitch of the roof to form flat portions at the correct height or plant semi-mature trees.

Chief development control officer, Alan Wells, said: "The issue is whether committee members consider that the changes in height makes a significant difference in visual terms. Members of the public will be given the opportunity to have their say at the meeting."

Wednesday's meeting will take place at 2.30pm in the civic offices.