Take a look at new Wolverhampton flats sparking controversy

Woodthorne House, which was owned by former Mayor of Wolverhampton Sir Henry Hartley Fowler, stood in Wergs Road, Tettenhall until it was demolished 50 years ago.

Now Hartley House, which contains luxury apartments, has been modelled on the old building.

But residents say the months of upheaval caused by the work - and the loss of scores of trees - has not been justified.

It is part of Woodthorne, a new development built by David Wilson Homes Mercia.

The new development initially raised controversy in February 2013 when plans revealed the new homes would result in the loss of almost 200 trees – including 70 of which were protected with a Tree Preservation Order (TPO).

And residents say they are unhappy with the scheme and said the loss of trees have been 'a deforestation of Tettenhall'.

Councillor Jonathan Yardley, who represents the Tettenhall Regis ward, said: "It's been a constant issue with me and my constituents from the moment planning permission was applied for up until now.

"The applicants David Wilson Homes Mercia realised the plans were an over-development, squeezing 64 dwellings onto the land when there wasn't enough room.

"They applied to get rid of 200 trees including 70 protected trees, some of which had been planted to celebrate the silver jubilee of Queen Victoria.

"It was a deforestation of Tettenhall – our most beautiful area."

David Wilson Homes Mercia, part of Barratt Homes, bought the real estate off food testing company Eurofins UK, who had moved onto the cleared site but are now located on the i54 Business Park.

Prices start at £325,000 for a two-bedroom ground floor apartment at Hartley House, with homes including open plan living space, kitchen, dining and lounge areas with a separate laundry room.

Steve Barton, senior sales manager at David Wilson Homes Mercia, said: "We are very proud of the luxury homes we have built at Woodthorne, which are at the top end of the market, and we are delighted they are selling in line with expectations.

"Woodthorne is award winning and was rated as one of the best quality developments in the country by the National House Building Council this year."

More than 60 people including Wolves vice-president Baroness Rachael Heyhoe Flint sent letters of objection to Wolverhampton City Council rejecting the application but plans went ahead.

Resident Peter Mullen, aged 66, lives on Birchfield Avenue; his back garden backs onto the development which he says has caused a number of different problems since building started in September 2013.

"I would say the only advantage we've had from the development is that we get more light through the back of the house because the trees were cut down," he said.

"I have noticed the wildlife isn't as good as it used to be. We used to get bats flying around all the time but you never see them anymore.

"It's been a disaster from the start. When they brought down the trees some of them were Giant Redwoods and they came crashing down. There was a loud bang and the whole house was shaking. It was unbelievable the way they fell.

"At the same time building was taking place, a lot of houses in the area had blocked drains and we had power cuts too because wires were accidentally being pulled out."

Another local resident who also lives on Birchfield Avenue but did not want to be named: "Some of the trees they got rid of were very mature and the amount they pulled down was ridiculous.

"It was the fact that they crammed so many houses into such a small space of land.

They added: "A number of wires were dug up and we had black outs on two to three occasions too."