NINE new homes are to set to be built in St John's despite serious concerns about parking "mayhem".

A developer wants to create a small residential plot in Comer Road by building on a derelict old car sales site.

But the area is one of St John's most congested streets and city councillors say up to 12 cars are often parked on the land from surrounding streets.

The project, led by a developer called Templeoak, based in Coventry, is still likely to go ahead but only after more talks about the parking problems.

Because the area around Comer Road has so many tight Victorian terraces, householders from nearby streets face a daily battle to park up.

It was debated during a meeting of Worcester City Council's planning committee.

Councillor Richard Udall said: "I don't object to the application but I do have concerns, really serious ones, about car parking.

"This development will only add to the pressure because it'll remove between 10 and 12 spaces in this area.

"It will cause a huge displacement problem for the neighbouring streets.

"I'd like you to defer this and ask Worcestershire County Council for a residential parking scheme, to be funded by the applicant, to help.

"We need to make sure the unintended consequences from this development isn't parking mayhem in Comer Road."

Alan Coleman, a senior planning officer, told him asking the developer to fund a parking scheme for residents would be "unjustified" in planning terms.

Councillor Alan Amos said: "It is the parking that bothers me - if we can't get the number of spaces we need then according to our own policies, it's over-development."

Councillor Jo Hodges added: "Being realistic, most families or couples tend to have a car each these days.

"I suspect, if you ask people going into these flats 'do you want a second parking space or a bit of extra room for your bins or a bicycle, they'd say they want a second parking space."

Councillor Paul Denham said many people who choose to live in certain areas often buy a property happily knowing there is no or little parking.

"Most people are sensible about it, and don't buy it if they have too many cars," he said.

"People do that in central areas - a lot of people choose to live somewhere because they don't have a car."

The developer wants to build four three-bed homes, two four-bed properties and three two-bed flats.

The homes would get two parking spaces each but the flats would only get one, which did lead to an objection from the county council, on the grounds it was not enough.

They agreed to delegate the final decision to officers in conjunction with the planning committee's chairman, Councillor Chris Mitchell, after more talks with the developer.