TWO years of planning battles has ended with approval for homes for more than 100 students in Winchester.

A controversial application was approved by Winchester City Council last Thursday (December 15) to build two four-storey student buildings in Sparkford Road.

Developer, Abbotswood Properties, already had permission to erect the buildings with 99 bedrooms following a planning appeal in June, after the council had rejected an original proposal in January 2010.

But the applicants responded with plans to add an extra storey, increasing the number of bedrooms to 114, while also providing a flat for a warden.

The applicants are also in talks with university over its future management of the site.

For the full story see this week's edition of the Hampshire Chronicle, out now.