"Today's planning guidance is a recipe for tomorrow's slums," says a Kings Worthy parish councillor, who insists he will fight to stop a housing development.

Dr Adrian March, parish council chairman, says a scheme to knock down five homes in Springvale Road, Kings Worthy and replace them with 23 houses is "the worst I have ever seen in my life".

The plans have been approved, but Dr March says he will appeal. Most of the existing homes are bungalows. They will be replaced by a mix of four- to one-bedroom terrace houses, some with garages.

"This isn't going to happen," he said. "We have to take this further. It looks so excruciatingly bad that we cannot possibly let it happen."

He believes city planners did not have all the information needed to make a decision and wants them to look at the plans again.

"They were misled. They were told there would be "1.6 or more" parking spaces for each house, but the actual ratio is 1.375 to each house. I have worked it all out," he said.

He also condemned planning guidance, which, he says, concentrates on cramming as many homes as possible on to a site.

"The quality of life will be zilch. We wouldn't be allowed to build a prison to this specification."

The parish council, which lodged "the strongest objections it has ever made", now hopes the city council will reverse its decision.

He added that he felt much of the site would be prone to flooding, the design was impractical and children would have nowhere to play.