AN empty block of student flats in Worcester is going to be revamped, despite concern it will cause the neighbourhood problems.

A six-bed HMO (House of Multiple Occupation) at 32-36 Bransford Road is going to get an upgrade after councillors voted it through.

But the move - which has been handed the green light by Worcester City Council's planning committee - was almost scrapped after a long debate into the impact on the area.

Developer Minchan Properties said the site was in a poor condition, even calling it an "eyesore", and were seeking to get a two-storey extension so it has 10 beds, including one above a retail unit.

Two St John's councillors called it "significant over-development" and tried to get it blocked, but the vote went against them 7-3.

Councillor Chris Cawthorne, speaking during a planning committee meeting, said: "It's highly unsatisfactory.

"There are already a lot of HMOs in the area, including one right opposite which is empty.

"It's naive to say there are no parking problems in this area, Graham Road and the other roads leading to it have been a nightmare for years.

"People can't get out of their drives, cars are parked on both sides of the road; if this isn't a description of a 'problem parking' area I don't know what is."

Councillor Richard Udall, who also represents St John's, said: "It will be a significant over-development of the site.

"It will damage the residential amenity of this community, which is an historic part of St John's."

A forthcoming election candidate for May's county council elections, Labour activist Dan Walton, also spoke at the meeting to try and get it blocked, saying the issue had been raised with him while door-knocking.

But the committee was won over by the argument that Minchan Properties intends to provide six parking spaces around the back of the property and revamp the building to make it more attractive to working professionals.

Councillor Paul Denham said: "I can't see a good planning argument against this."

He said many people in HMO-style properties cannot afford cars and pointed to extra spaces being provided anyway, before a majority of councillors voted it through.