A SCHEME to build four homes in the grounds of a home near Bishop’s Waltham has been narrowly approved.

The plans – to develop the plot of Ivy Dene in Lower Chase Road, Swanmore – were given the go-ahead by Winchester City Council’s planning sub committee.

Councillors approved them by five votes to four at a meeting.

The proposals involve putting a four-bedroom home next to Ivy Dene and building an access road between them. At the end of the drive will be a three-bedroom house and two two-bedroom bungalows.

Yet several councillors had earlier spoken against the application.

Cllr Therese Evans said: “I don’t think I can support this proposal because it changes the character of the area.”

Former mayor Cllr Michael Read said: “It’s a back garden development and I have concerns about them anyway.”

Cllr Roger Huxstep said: “I think this is over-development.

“Putting another three homes behind it would clearly change the character of the area.”

But Cllr Ian Tait backed the proposals, saying it was an “intelligent and well-designed scheme”.