RESIDENTS who "lost their sunset" to a supermarket, are now fighting to defend a former orchard from being crushed by flats.

Developers have applied to build a three-storey block on a neglected field opposite Tesco Extra, off Abingdon Road, Oxford, to develop nine flats with parking.

But families next to the site, who lost a four-year battle in 2012 to block Tesco from land behind their back gardens, claim the building plans are "crazy" and raised objections during online consultation.

Peel Place resident, musician Sue Smith, whose garden backs onto the grassland, said: "I have lived here for 34 years and that has always been a green space. We lost our sunset because of the height of Tesco, we were absolutely horrified to see this.

"The very idea that anybody would go on that site for me is a no-no. It's an open communal orchard that was part of the pub. People would go and pick apples, it was a nice area."

She listed concerns about being overlooked, suffering even worse flooding in the area, pressure on the sewage system, and concerns that access, which would cut through the Tesco car park, would be dangerous and risk spaces for shoppers being taken by residents.

She added: "We really understand that people need housing, but we are going to lose sun, privacy and it's on a flood plain. This area has always been seen as a bit of a city dumping ground and we would like a green space. It's such a shame. For this community there is very little space for a gathering point."

Her partner Phil Fryer, also a well-known local rock musician, added: "It would just be crazy madness having a development like that so close to a house."

The plans, which will be decided by Oxford City Council, include three one-bedroom and six two-bedroom contemporary flats with 12 car parking spaces, on land behind an unlicensed car wash site that was targeted by fly-tippers in January.

Kemp and Kemp property consultancy, which submitted the application at the end of May on behalf of applications VO Properties, said in its planning statement: "The proposed overall form, scale and siting of the new block has been carefully located and positioned to avoid undue neighbour impact.

"The additional housing units will generate jobs in the construction phase, bring more people into the area and generate greater spending capacity, better sustaining local shops and other amenities such as schools in particular in the longer term."

It said the council's 21m rule between buildings would be complied with.

The county council's highway authority objected to the application, and said there was "inadequate access for residents and visitors not travelling to the site by car".