ONE of Southampton's landmark pubs will be torn down and converted into a luxury development for senior citizens.

US company, Sunrise Senior Living, has won an application to build an 87-room care home on the site of the Bassett pub in Burgess Road, pictured.

As many as 105 pensioners are expected to live in the building which will create 70 full-time jobs. But some objections have been raised about the impact the complex could have on car choked Burgess Road and the creation of an additional pedestrian crossing.

Pete Radford, who lives next to the pub, said: "We'll be putting another crossing on an already log-jammed road. If you do this traffic will be completely blocked in both directions. Access is going to be a real problem and there are no bus stops nearby for the elderly residents to get into the city centre. They will need to walk to either Hill Lane or the Avenue.

"Also the pub is part of the city's heritage and should really have a preservation order on it."

In all nine letters of objection were received from disgruntled neighbours, but their arguments failed to sway the planning councillors who sit on the Planning and Rights of Way panel. Councillor Kenneth Darke said Burgess Road was busy 24 hours a day and the highways department had not fully looked at the impact the multi-million pound scheme could have on it. While Councillor Alec Samuels said it was an interesting design that would be advantageous to the area.

He said: "Burgess Road is a difficult and dangerous road but I feel this development will improve visibility in both directions"

The proposals are for leisure facilities on site along with a bistro, spa and hair salon.