Sea Planning applied to build nine apartments, in a three-storey block, on the site of the stone property in Greenhead Lane, Chapeltown.

The proposals attracted a barrage of complaints, including a 101-signature petition and 17 letters of objection, which have been submitted to Sheffield Council before a decision on the development being made at a planning meeting on Tuesday.

Ecclesfield Parish Council has supported the residents' claims that demolishing the house would be detrimental to the history and character of the surrounding area.

Although the house is not listed and is not in a designated conservation area, the report written by Sheffield's planning officers describes it as "adding to the character of the area". To retain it, the report says, would "be an asset to the locality."

Objections from the residents are on the grounds of potential loss of light, loss of privacy, parking problems and over-development.

Planning officers have supported residents' concerns to some extent and have recommended that the application be refused.

In the report to go before Tuesday's meeting the planners say that the "proposed development will have significant impact in terms of overbearing and overlooking into the immediate neighbouring properties."

The report adds that the application would be looked upon more favourably if the original building "was to be retained and extended using similar materials."

At the same meeting, an application to build a new house on a steep hillside in the grounds of Damosel House, near Oughtibridge, will also be considered.

A total of 19 letters of objection have been received by the council, citing various issues such as that the three-storey building would be too large for the site, would bring about an unacceptable loss of trees and would impact on local wildlife such as badgers, owls and bats.

A previous application to build a house on the site was refused, though outline planning permission for this development has already been granted.

Planning officers have described the area as a "very difficult site", due to its "physical configuration and steep gradients, the existence of several mature trees and the sensitivity of the location on the fringe of a very attractive protected landscape."

However, they have recommended that the plans be approved and said that the scale, form and site of the split-level property is acceptable.

The report to go before Tuesday's meeting says: "The proposed dwelling is considered to be in scale and character in its setting. Although on a slightly larger scale than the previous approval and similar in scale to the refused application, it is considered that the proposed scheme works better in its current form than the previous refusal in terms of design... the proposed dwelling will have less impact on the locality than the previous refused design."

Recommending the application be approved, planning officers added: "the proposed house will harmonise with neighbouring properties without dominating the surroundings, existing trees will be retained to offset its visual impact and there would be no adverse effect on the living conditions of neighbours."

The planning meeting is at Sheffield Town Hall at 2pm on Tuesday.