Far from being a "green oasis", the courtyard is a "mess" spattered by condoms and syringes because it is used by prostitutes and drug addicts, said a Treasury Holdings spokesman.
"At present, the residents must make their way through this backyard knocking shop and drug zone, through a noisy and smelly atmosphere generated by both illegal and approved extract machinery from restaurants operating there," he said.
The development would "dramatically improve" this situation and some of the extra value generated by the installation of a "La Stampa-style" restaurant would be used to refurbish the 40 flats.
"They have no central heating, the plumbing is antiquated, the electrics date from the 1940s, the windows are rotten and the residents have no security. Our scheme will fix all of that because the city council, as landlords, won't do it," he said.
"In addition, we're providing a very large landscaped roof garden with secure swipe-card access, a proper service area for the existing restaurants around the perimeter and the most modern extractor units to eliminate noise and smells," he said.
"We spent nine months trying to meet them [the residents] to discuss our plans, but for some reason they were never available."
