Controversial plans to bulldoze hundreds of homes in Runcorn look set to be rubber-stamped.

The council’s development management committee meets on Monday where it is expected to approve the next phase of a £60m regeneration scheme in Palace Fields.

It would see the demolition of  317 homes at The Uplands, along with Palace Fields Community Centre and the closure of two subways. This would then be followed by construction of 257 new homes, roads, footways and cycleways.

The plans are the latest phase of a scheme by social landlord Riverside to redevelop  the area, but some local residents have raised objections.

A total of 48 objections have been received, comments published on planning documents have included: “My home has been adapted for disabled members of my family”, “this is a scheme of gentrification”, "local affected people are under care of medical professionals with stress and anxiety and some are on anti depressants”, "I have lived in this house for 41 years and don’t want to move”, “I am nearly mortgage free and will have to restart”.

A petition has also been launched objecting to the scheme which has gathered 155 signatures.

A report to the committee said approval would not automatically result in the demolition of privately-owned properties. It said should the planning application be approved, it was Riverside's intention to buy the remaining privately owned properties. But it added that any properties that are not sold may be subject of a future compulsory purchase order (CPO), where owners could be forced to sell up.

The report added that while there was potential for some of those displaced residents to be relocated within the immediate area, there were ‘no firm arrangements proposed at this time’.

It said: “The representing planning agent has confirmed that the applicant is taking steps to offer a number of options to existing residents in terms of offers to purchase properties, providing bridging loans and offering properties for rent within its existing property portfolio."

The project will also see the existing community centre flattened and replaced with a newer facility.

The first phase of the redevelopment has already been approved and will see the demolition of the existing shops, replacing them with a new local centre.  Bethesda Church will be bulldozed and replaced with a new church building. New homes will also be created – including a veterans’ village – and the derelict Tricorn Pub and stables will be redeveloped to create new homes.