CHURCH leaders have seen £500,000 plans to create a community and youth centre in Bitterne Park, Southamp-ton, scuppered by city planners.

They wanted to demolish a disused church hall in Lacon Close and build five houses to pay for works to the Church of the Ascension in Cobden Avenue.

Plans had already been passed for a revamp and extension to the church that would have included much needed youth facilities and community meeting rooms.

But Southamp-ton City Council's Planning Panel threw out the application to build four semi-detached and a detached house in Lacon Close.

Ward councillor Peter Baillie pleaded the church's case saying a 21st century state-of-the-art community centre was on the line.

Long-standing Lacon Close resident Victor Hawkins hit back saying that, although he sympathised with church, to pass the "over-development" would have driven a "coach and horses through the planning process."

In the end councillors sided with planning officers who said the homes were out of character, too high and lacked amenity space.