PLANS for 46 new homes at a former Highcliffe holiday park have been approved, despite concerns and objections over a 'cluster' of affordable housing.

The scheme for the housing development at the former Cobbs Holiday Park off Gordon Road, was given the green light by Christchurch Borough Council's planning committee.

This was despite the reservations of objecting residents, who signed a petition over the siting of affordable housing and traffic concerns.

Outline permission for 45 properties on the site had previously been granted, with this application dealing with detailed matters.

The site, which was bought by Pennyfarthing Homes, will see detached, semi-detached houses and flats built, as well as 14 affordable properties.

But concerns were raised about the segregated affordable housing, with one resident describing it as an insult to those who would live there.

The social housing will be at the eastern side of the site, with the other properties accessed from Stanley Road.

In a written report to the committee, officers said: "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."

Cllr David Jones, chairman of the planning committee, who abstained from voting on the scheme, said: "As a Highcliffe councillor I am disappointed about certain aspects of the scheme.

"While I welcome the provision of much needed affordable housing, I was disappointed with the layout of the scheme.

"However, this was not enough to vote against the application.

"I raised concerns about the layout of the affordable housing and the design itself on the back of residents concerns, but unfortunately there were no planning grounds to refuse this."