A BLOCK of flats could be built in the grounds of a former Malvern Girls' College boarding house.

A planning application for the building, at Ivydene, Albert Road North, has been sent to Malvern Hills District Council. The applicant is named as Mrs M B Shafie, of that address.

The plans show a five-storey building on the site with access off Albert Road North.

But Malvern Civic Society is concerned the planned building is too big for the site.

Society member Katherine Barber said: "The flats really seem crammed in and there's not much garden, although people don't seem to want gardens any more.

"It's another example of large gardens in Malvern's conservation area being lost. There's not much that can be done because the law regards gardens as brownfield sites."

She said the society is also worried about details of the design and about the loss of trees.

"Without a change in the law, there's not much we can do to prevent this sort of thing. If it goes on it'll definitely have an affect on the character of the town."

College spokesman Susie Branch confirmed that the school had sold Ivydene last year.

The school has just merged with West Malvern-based St James's School, and from September will be known as Malvern St James.

The applicant could not be contacted for comment.