UP to 22 new homes look likely to be built in the grounds of a historic military site in Winchester.

Planning chiefs in the city have agreed proposals by developers to convert the site of the Royal Observer Corps building on Abbotts Road.

The scheme would see the former city headquarters of the corps transformed into four dwellings, while in the grounds four new town houses would also be built.

Three of these town houses would be three storeys high with 15 homes in total, while the fourth block would be dedicated to affordable housing with two two-bedroom flats and a further one-bedroom flat.

The proposals, by developers Bayview Developments Ltd, were approved at a meeting of Winchester City Council's Planning and Development Control Committee, though the vote was close.

Four of the nine councillors on the panel held the view that the Grade II listed building, which was built in 1943, should be demolished to make way for a more manageable building.

And although the five other councillors did vote through the plans, the members also agreed that further work was needed on the design of the affordable housing, garage space and traffic issues before building could get underway.

The Royal Observer Corps played an important role in the Second World War with the Abbotts Road building used as a base for monitoring airborne activity over the country.

The building was listed in 1993 shortly after the corps was disbanded at the end of the Cold War.

Speaking at a committee meeting earlier this year, Anthony Maasz, the chairman of the trustees of the Royal Observer Corps Museum, said he agreed with the proposals because the building needed to be restored to its original appearance. It is listed on Hampshire County Council's buildings at risk register.

The developers have also agreed, with the help of the corps' museum, to put up a display illustrating the history of the building in the lobby once work is complete.