SEVEN new affordable homes are going to be built in Worcester after the city council agreed to sell a parcel of derelict land.

Waterloo Housing Group has secured planning permission over developing a rectangle of land within the boundaries of Astwood Cemetery.

The project will result in a cash windfall for Worcester City Council, which has sold a section of the site containing an unused office and maintenance depot.

Waterloo, a rapidly-growing housing association, wants to create three bungalows and four two-bed homes.

The development will also see several families taken off the council's waiting list, which stands at 2,460 names.

It was voted through unanimously during a meeting of the planning committee, where it was labelled "a great development".

It was backed despite some concern about Waterloo not being asked to stump up any cash for improving open spaces, which usually forms part of a planning application.

Councillor Geoff Williams, the planning committee's deputy chairman, said: "I'm slightly nervous about setting a precedent here - we're not asking for any open space provision."

Planning officer Nick Kay replied: "There is a balance to be struck - what is coming before us is 100 per cent affordable housing, and that has to be recognised."

Councillor Jo Hodges said: "In the end, this offers new units of affordable housing, which is desperately needed in this city.

"This is a piece of council land which is no longer needed - I think the families that move in will have nothing but praise for it."

The planning committee's new chairman Councillor Chris Mitchell said: "It's a great development because what this creates is seven new affordable homes."

Under the plan all the units would be via a shared access area, off the existing drive for the cemetery.

A grass patch of land between the offices and old maintenance depot, which is classed as an ancient meadow with a number of old fruit trees, will be reduced in size but only very slightly with no trees chopped down.

Last year the city council started work on a £370,000 revamp of the cemetery to give it a long-awaited rebirth.

The chapel has now been fully redesigned and boasts new carpeting, seating and lighting, refurbished woodwork, fresh painting and audio visual equipment.