SOME of Southampton's most exclusive homes could be demolished to make way for eight-storey blocks of flats, the Daily Echo can reveal.

Three houses off Bassett Avenue, Bassett, estimated to be worth £500,000 each, and situated in four acres of gardens and mature woodland, could be bought out by developer Banner Homes.

The application has been submitted to the city council in the same month as Southampton has been forced to agree to build up to 8,000 homes within its boundary as part of the Hampshire structure plan.

Banner Homes want to turn the site, off Holly Hill, into 120 luxury flats and villa-style homes.

But concerned residents claim the development would cause traffic chaos on an already dangerous junction.

David Spivey, a resident, said: "There is only one way in and out of Holly Hill, via a difficult access into Bassett Avenue, which is the principal route into the city."

A new access road into the development would have to be built as part of the scheme, leading off from the narrow Holly Hill road.

The density and height of the development do directly contravene the development policy adopted for Bassett in 1982, say protesters.

This rules that density shouldn't exceed 50 habitable rooms per acre and that the particular site should only be developed by detached houses up to a maximum of two storeys high.

A spokesman for Banner Homes refused to comment on the application, which is not expected to come before committee until December.

A city council spokesman confirmed an application had been received for luxury homes.

He added: "We are looking to apply our policy that every large development should include affordable housing."

But the Daily Echo understands Banner Homes are keen to buy out of this by giving the council cash to put social housing elsewhere, to preserve the luxury nature of the development.

Residents and planners will discuss the scheme at a meeting tonight at 7.30 in the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints, in Chetwynd Road, Bassett.

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