WORK is under way on a controversial luxury development beside the Hamble River at Warsash.

Four homes in art deco style, with a starting price of £500,000, are being built on the site of the former Eduardo's Restaurant in Shore Road by developers Drew Smith Homes of Southampton.

Despite objections from villagers, Fareham planners approved the scheme, with little change to the original proposals.

However, residents are still unhappy and maintain the 1930s design is "totally unsuitable and out of keeping with the area."

Warsash Residents' Association secretary Ken Pragnell also claimed parking was inadequate, with only one space per home in a very limited area.

However Drew Smith's sales and marketing director, Paul Doswell, said: "The interesting thing about the Eduardo's scheme is that only detail changes were made to our original proposals.

"But this also demonstrates the benefits of public consultation we had over the Warsash scheme. We held an exhibition inside the old restaurant detailing what we intended and all comments made by those who visited were taken into account.

"The general reaction has been very favourable, but where people suggested amendments these were taken into account before the scheme was finally submitted to Fareham Borough planners, with the result it was then passed unchanged.

"I would like to thank the people of Warsash for their input and I am now confident they will like the finished result."

The Warsash development is just one of a £17.3m package of housing schemes in the Southampton-Eastleigh area.