KINGS Worthy is to see the development of 25 new affordable homes, despite the concerns of residents.

On Tuesday (November 27), city councillors voted unanimously in favour of the proposals for Hookpit Farm Lane.

The development has twice before been approved by planning chiefs, but the plans came before the council's committee after some 30 letters of objection were received.

Prior to the meeting, Kings Worthy parish council said that residents' concerns included a loss of parking spaces and levels of traffic at the junctions of Hookpit Farm Lane with Cundell Way and Springvale Road.

Objecting to the application, resident James Hunt said: “It's already a well populated area and in recent years there's been an increase in traffic. I think it's naive to think that parking restrictions in this rural area will be adhered to.

“This proposal is unworkable and unrealistic,” he said.

Objections also focussed on whether there really was a need for the development.

But a report submitted by housing officers said there are 207 householders in need of rented accommodation with a local connection to Kings Worthy, and that the need cannot be satisfied purely within the village as it currently stands.

It was also noted that whilst Barton Farm will provide around 800 affordable homes, these will be available to all 3,200 households currently on the waiting list.

Addressing the committee, portfolio holder for new homes delivery, Ian Tait, said: “Although the council will not have direct involvement, I want to endorse and support the officers' recommendations that the council support the plans.

“We want to ensure that all affordable house of this type are of a certain standard. We want to ensure that this development gets approval so that we get quality houses.”

Concerns regarding parking were rejected by highways officers on the basis that many of the cars that park in the area belong to dog walkers, and that local residents had no legal right to the spaces.

Council officer Nick Culhane said: “The residents do not control this land: it's not theirs exclusively. They in fact have private parking in the form of garages and driveways.”

Neil Holmes, representing the applicant, Drew Smith Ltd, said: “As designers, it's nice to be able to do this kind of development scheme for affordable housing.”