A PLAN to build affordable housing on a former city golf course was backed by councillors despite traffic concerns.

Social housing provider Platform Housing Group had its plan to build a mix of flats, homes and bungalows on part of the old Tolladine golf course in Worcester backed by the city council's planning committee at a meeting on Thursday (January 21).

The homes would be a mix of five two-bed flats, a three-bed bungalow, six three-bed homes and four four-bed homes.

The latest plans come after permission to build nine four-bed homes expired having been approved in 2011.

During the meeting, city mayor Cllr Jo Hodges said: "Here we are asked to balance the desperate need we have in this city for social housing ... with the concerns of local people who live in the area and their quite understandable concerns of change and what is going to happen and what this development will bring their locality.

"I do feel that those concerns have been addressed and I happy to support 16 homes being built on this land."

Several neighbours in The Fairway, the road which the new homes would be accessed from, have said they were concerned by increase traffic especially entering onto and exiting from the already-very-busy Tolladine Road.

Other neighbours have questioned whether the homes are needed when plans for affordable housing in nearby Rose Avenue has already been approved.

Several objections have been submitted against the plan by local residents most concerned by the increase in traffic and the noise and disturbance if the homes are allowed to be built.

Highways officers at Worcestershire County Council raised no objection.

Platform said the number of planned affordable homes corresponded with the council's housing policies and there would be no overlooking issues.

Plans to build homes on the land proved controversial when they were first submitted more than ten years ago.

Tustin Homes submitted plans in 2010 but withdrew them only three months later. The plan was put forward again later that year and backed by the council's planning committee in early 2011.

At the time, Warndon Parish Council had warned the plan would be the start of developer's 'chipping away' at the huge green space to build more homes.