PERMISSION has been granted to build five new flats in St John’s despite concerns the increased traffic would be a serious risk to children at a nearby nursery.

Worcester City Council’s planning department granted the application to demolish a large garage at 90 Blakefield Road and build a new two-story building to contain two one-bedroom flats and one two-bedroom flat on Thursday, November 13.

Although members heard neighbours were concerned the road was already very busy with traffic and the development would put children at the next door Hawthorn Cottage Nursery at risk, they also granted permission to convert the existing house on the site into two one-bedroom flats.

Blakefield Road resident Nick Baker said he and his neighbours were “dismayed” about the impact of the development.

“I think there should be some development on this site, but the proposed plans are over-development,” he said.

“There isn’t anyone I spoke to who was in favour of this.

“I can’t imagine what another five or six homes will do to parking expect being a risk to children.”

But architect Nick Carroll said neighbour’s concerns had been taken into account and off-street parking was included in the plans.

“I get the feeling the people who live in Blakefield Road are more concerned about the liveliness of the street,” he said.

Although some concerns had been expressed the new building would not be in keeping with the street, which is mostly made up of Victorian terraces, Mr Carroll said the existing homes were already very varied and this would continue that theme.

“Streets are improved by a variety of physical forms as well as a variety of people,” he said.

Ward member for St John’s Cllr Chris Cawthorne said she was firmly against the development, expressing particular concerns that trees on the site would have to be felled for the new development.

Cllr Roger Berry said he was “reluctant” to approve the application, but did not feel there was a legitimate reason to refuse it.

“We have all the problems in St John’s that exist in the centre of the city and Wylds Lane,” he said.

“I’ve got great sympathy for residents but we haven’t got any alternatives.”

But Cllr Robert Rowden agreed, saying: “Perhaps people would say they wouldn’t want to live there, but whether people want to live there or not is not a planning issue.”

The application was granted by seven votes, with one abstention.