Plans for eight new affordable homes in Southampton have been approved despite dozens of locals objecting.

Abri Housing Association brought forward the proposal to develop the land off a cul-de-sac in Bryanston Road.

The scheme features four two-bed and four three-bed homes on the site, which is currently an undeveloped green space.

Members of Southampton City Council’s planning and rights of way panel voted in line with the officer’s recommendation to delegate powers to grant the application subject to several requirements.

The panel heard the site had been allocated for housing since the 1950s but a proposal had not been progressed to date for “various reasons”.

The current Local Plan, which outlines sites that are earmarked for potential new housing, states around 13 homes could be built on the land.

Meghan Rossiter, Abri’s planning manager, told the panel: “We are committed to delivering all eight of these homes as affordable homes for rent.

“With an equal mix of two and three-bed homes, this development we think will make a meaningful contribution to meeting local need for family housing in this part of Southampton.”

Ms Rossiter said the scheme included two allocated car parking spaces per home, with a further four spaces to replace the on-street facilities that will need to be taken out from Bryanston Road.

Seventeen trees will be removed, with 32 replacements planted on the land, which is located near the railway.

The public consultation on the application attracted 29 objections in addition to a petition against the proposal signed by 55 people.

Their concerns included the loss of the green space, the poor vehicle access on Bryanston Road, the loss of on-street parking, the risk to surface water drainage from building on a green space and the structural nature of the land.

The panel received and read several written statements from objecting residents.

Peartree ward councillor Eamonn Keogh, who asked for the application to go before the panel, said: “There have been many previous applications proposed for this site and they have until now been rejected, or withdrawn by the applicant, and all have been rejected by residents for a variety of reasons. This application is no different.”

He said he had fears about the potential flood risk from the development, which had yet to receive sufficient assurance.

Cllr Keogh added: “This is a difficult one because all of us would support additional housing in the area and particularly if it’s family housing of this nature.

“I still believe for the site that eight properties is still too many, irrespective of the fact that there was potential for 13.

“I would urge the panel to maybe consider that approval is given for six and what that would allow is for additional local parking spaces.”

Members of the panel pressed officers over the situation with flooding and drainage before supporting the officer’s recommendation, with one abstention.

The process of formally granting the application was delegated back to officers subject to securing a legal agreement with the housing association, an additional consultation with Network Rail and agreeing the sustainable drainage system design with flood consultants.