PLANS for 16 micro-homes on an old car park were approved - despite strong objections from neighbours.

The iKozie micro-homes, the first of which was trialled in Barbourne in Worcester last year, will be built first and then lowered into the site of a former car park behind Cecil Road.

More than 60 objections were made against the plan citing parking issues, loss of privacy, inappropriate design and overdevelopment as reasons for approval to be refused.

Residents in neighbouring Cecil Road would have their gardens cut to make way for the homes – leaving each house with around 11 metres of garden. Officers at the city council said the micro-homes would not be tall enough and are sufficiently far away to not restrict light or disturb people in the garden.

Five of the micro-homes would be for single people on the council’s social housing list and the remaining 11 would be put on the market to rent.

The prefabricated homes, which measure at 17.25 square metres and include a kitchen, bathroom and lounge area, would be arranged in a U-shape behind Cecil Road - part of which would be two-storeys high.

A condition was included in the planning permission to change the material of the roof from corrugated iron to a quieter alternative.

Of the 16 micro-homes, 14 would be the standard size and two would be larger to allow for wheelchair access.

Kieran O’Donnell, director of iKozie, said: “The approval of the first iKozie community will draw a lot of attention from around the country and Worcester City Council is to be congratulated for its vision in supporting this innovative housing scheme.

“It hasn’t been an easy road to get here as we have revised the plans to ensure the council’s view and the thoughts and concerns of residents near the development have been taken into consideration.”

Councillor Pat Agar said the micro-homes were a “great idea” and something that should be done a lot more.