PLANNERS have granted permission for a small housing scheme on a Winchester estate.

Using their delegated powers city council officers have backed the plan by Beverley Arnett and Guljit Sohal to build two-bedroom houses and two one-bed dwellings in the gardens of 130 Stanmore Lane and 140 Stanmore Lane.

The proposal attracted ten letters of support including former city councillor Ian Tait and planning consultant, who wrote: “Over the years the Stanmore Estate has ‘lost’ significant numbers of family houses to HMOs (Houses in Multiple Occupation) which has altered the social makeup of the area so I am always interested when there are plans submitted for new ‘family’ homes.

“Whilst I recognise that the estate was laid out with particular care to create a certain form of spatial character I can not see that the proposals will harm this and the style and size of the proposed dwellings are much needed.”

Local resident Stephen Baker, of Stanmore Lane, said: “Over the years the garden has become over grown and an eyesore and the house has been neglected so having new houses will tidy up the corner and hopefully provide much-needed homes for families as I believe they can’t be let out to students.”

But the City of Winchester Trust, the preservation watchdogs, objected. In a letter it said: “This appears to be an over-development of a significant open area along Stanmore Lane leading into a cul-de-sac which forms an essential spatial element that contributes to those best aspects of the award winning Stanmore Estate’s character.

“It was considered this space should be preserved against insensitive development.”

When the first parts of Stanmore were built in the 1920s just after World War One, in the Homes fit for Heroes’ initiative, it was hailed for its spacious and leafy character.