RESIDENTS are facing a nervous wait over an appeal for a controversial development in Christchurch.

The plans for three bungalows and a detached garage at 2 Amberwood Drive, Walkford were turned down at an emotive meeting of Christchurch Borough Council's planning committee.

However, applicants Radmore Homes, whose directors include Liverpool and England footballer Adam Lallana, have launched an appeal to the planning inspectorate.

In a statement, Christchurch Borough Council said the scheme would represent an overdevelopment of the site.

The authority also has concerns over the access to the proposed houses.

The statement says: "Overall, it is considered that the site layout is contrived and lacks compatibility with the enclosing development in terms of both the layout of built form and the relationship between dwellings.

"Contrary to the views expressed, the driveway is devoid of passing places other than at the entrance to the site (from Amberwood Drive) and at the point to the fore of the recently constructed/proposed dwellings.

"The curving nature of the access and the restricted visibility at points throughout its length are such that, regardless of the estimated time taken to navigate it, vehicles meeting at any point along its length would be required to reverse to a point where its width would be sufficient to facilitate passing."

A total of 24 residents in the Amberwood neighbourhood spoke out against the scheme before it went to the planning committee.

Residents were disappointed about the removal of trees which lined the ornamental drive to the former property on 2 Amberwood Drive.

A spokesperson for the residents of Amberwood said an objection signed by around 50 residents of the neighbourhood had been lodged to the planning inspectorate.

They added that the light and noise pollution caused by the loss of trees had hit home in the months since the initial application.

The spokesperson said: "It is an overwhelming response by the whole community. The neighbourhood has united and come together to try and voice our objections.

"Should planning permission be granted it would be a twist of the knife to all the residents who are already hurting.

"If it was allowed the issues of noise and light would be amplified significantly."

An application for two bungalows on the site from Radmore Homes was approved by the council in 2016.