PLANS for 46 new homes at a former Highcliffe holiday park have moved a step closer to approval, despite objections from residents.

The scheme for the housing development at the former Cobbs Holiday Park off Gordon Road, has been recommended for approval by planning officers.

It will be heard at committee on Thursday.

The application is a detailed one, with outline permission for 45 properties on the site already granted.

Pennyfarthing Homes bought the site, which could see detached, semi-detached houses and flats built, as well as 14 affordable properties, if approved.

Residents have raised concerns about the segregated affordable housing and increased traffic in Stanley Road as a result of the development.

The social housing will be at the eastern side of the site, with the other properties accessed from Stanley Road, a report to the planning committee explains.

It adds: "Concern has been raised by residents regarding the “clustering” of the affordable housing in one part of the site.

"The aspiration for development schemes is that affordable housing should be designed and laid out in a way that it should not be obvious which dwellings are affordable homes and which are open market.

"However, it has been accepted that it is impractical to simply 'scatter' affordable homes throughout the development, and indeed registered providers also require some degree of proximity to facilitate ease of management.

"Small clusters of affordable dwellings of 10-12 units have been accepted on this basis."

Thirty-five letters of objection have been received as well as a petition with 37 signatures, signed by local residents, including Phil Maier.

Speaking to the Daily Echo on behalf of residents earlier this year, he said: "I appreciate it’s got to be built on and I appreciate there has got to be affordable housing but it is the way it’s been done. It’s insulting to the people who will live there."

The objections raise concerns about the development being out of keeping in the area, of inappropriate design, and claim it likely to have an adverse impact on surrounding homes.

Objectors also say Stanley Road is inadequate to cope with the extra traffic and there was likely to be 'exacerbated congestion' at the junction with Lymington Road.