PLANS to replace Evesham's biggest eyesore with new houses will have to overcome a variety of problems before approval can be granted.

The proposal is to build new houses on land off Lime Street which is currently made up of long back gardens and a number of businesses including a scrap metal yard.

The applicants, Goalside Development, called for a decision in principal from Wychavon District Council so a more detailed proposal could be made. But the plan has already run into difficulties.

Land would have to be bought from people to build the new houses and a house where the site meets Lime Street may have to be demolished to widen the access road.

"There is going to be an awful lot of problems because I believe an awful lot of people don't want to sell their land," said Councillor Ron Cartwright.

If the land could not be acquired, the development would have to be scrapped.

And councillors warned the access road would need to be two lanes wide to stop traffic congestion becoming an issue.

"If there isn't a two-way traffic system it's going to be an awful mess," said Coun Cartwright.

Coun John Payne suggested a one-way traffic system around the new houses could solve the problem because only a one-lane road would be required.

"A one-way system would therefore not require the demolition of the house at the end of the street," he added.

Councillors said the proposal could also cause parking problems for residents on neighbouring Northwick and Kings Roads whose gardens back on to the site.

"A lot of the people garage their cars in their back gardens," said Coun Cartwright. "It's going to be terrible if this goes ahead and people haven't got the chance of leaving their cars on their own land."

But despite these problems, councillors agreed a new development would be better than the present buildings.

"Unless we start now it's going to remain one of Evesham's top eyesores," said Coun Payne.

"This proposal could play a large part in the rejuvenation of Evesham town centre and I believe it could be beneficial," added Coun Martin Jennings.

The original proposal asked for permission to build 57 houses.

But councillors felt this was too many and would only grant approval in principle if the number of houses was not specified.

They voted to approve in principle and delegate approval to the head of planning to allow time for a more detailed proposal to be presented and discussed at a later date.