Houses CAN be built beside Holy Saviour Church, Bitterne

Civic chiefs have approved an outline application to replace a church hall and a disused bowling green with 15 homes, a new access road and a multi-use games area.

The scheme is part of a project to upgrade Holy Saviour Church, a Grade II-listed building at Whites Road, Bitterne.

But the city council received 30 letters of objection after plans to build houses on land surrounding the vicarage were submitted in 2019.

Controversial plans to build 15 houses on land beside Holy Saviour Church, Bitterne, have been approved (Image: Newsquest.)

Many of the protests were lodged by local residents, who said the proposed development would create extra traffic problems in the area as well as devalue their homes.

Objectors claimed the three and four-bedroom homes would be too close to existing buildings.

Jennifer Conroy, of Brownlow Avenue, said: "I feel this is an over-ambitious proposal. It attempts to build too many properties on the site, with no regard to existing amenities."

Wendy Hall, of Whites Road, added: "Traffic, air and noise pollution and problems with parking will increase for current residents."

Stephen Bristow, of Brownlow Avenue, said: "We moved here from Highfield to escape what has happened in and around that area."

The funeral of Queen Elizabeth II was screened at Holy Saviour Church, Bitterne (Image: Newsquest.)

But the application also sparked dozens of letters of support from people praising moves to upgrade the church.

Katherine Cooper, of Chatsworth Road, said: "The development is vital to fund the work already approved by the planning department.

"Such works will provide the church, local community and surrounding areas with modern facilities to benefit all ages.

"Furthermore, the dwellings will provide much-needed quality housing on land that is currently under-utilised."

Barry Brand, of Thornhill Park Road, said some of the buildings at the site had been broken into, adding: "The extension to the church, having everything under one roof, is very important."

The funeral of Queen Elizabeth II was screened at Holy Saviour Church, Bitterne (Image: Newsquest.)

A report to councillors said church members aimed to rationalise the site and make surplus land available for housing.

It added: "Amended plans have reduced the scale of the housing from three to two storeys, and a block comprising 15 flats has been replaced with five two-bed dwellings."

It added that the bowling green was leased to Bitterne Bowling Club until 2016, when members moved to a new site.

The housing scheme was backed by councillors in 2021 and has now received final approval.

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