CIVIC planners have given the thumbs up for a new £6m council estate in the Kinson South area of Bournemouth.

Fifty homes are to be built on land at Holloway Avenue and Duck Lane, despite 14 letters of objection and a petition containing more than 1,000 signatures being sent to the Town Hall.

Cllr Robert Lawton, the local authority’s portfolio holder for housing, told the council’s planning board how the new “affordable family homes” would reduce the council’s current waiting list of 2,200 people. He stressed that they would be energy efficient and provide “a major boost for the local economy.”

Planning officer Steve Davies said some open space would be retained in what he described as “a green oasis” in Bournemouth. Some local residents had hoped the site could be used for a village green but no objectors turned up at the meeting.

Ward councillor Dennis Gritt, said the housing scheme would regenerate the area, adding: “This open space has been sadly neglected over the years; it hasn’t been a pleasant area.”

Planning board member Cllr Beryl Baxter, said: “It is refreshing to see a development coming forward for houses and not flats; it is very much needed.”

Vice-chairman Cllr Ron Whittaker also backed the application, adding: “It’s been a brilliant scheme; this is the first council housing development for a very long time.”

Board chairman Cllr David Kelsey said: “While we don’t like to lose open spaces we have to bear in mind the positives; it is a council priority to build more houses, rather than flats.”

As well as building 42 three-bedroom houses, six two-bedroom homes and two four-bedroom houses, the council intends to demolish existing buildings, create a new vehicle and pedestrian access to Holloway Avenue and build a new community building with public open space, a skateboard area and parking.

Work could get underway this autumn with homes ready for occupation in 18 months time.

A move by Cllr Baxter to grant the scheme, seconded by Cllr Whittaker, won unanimous approval from the board.