PLANS to build 30 affordable houses at a council depot in Christchurch have been handed to planners.

Housing association Spectrum have submitted the plans for the council depot at Grange Road to Christchurch council.

The proposal would see the two and three storey barrack buildings, used as offices, demolished along with a former sign shop, vehicle workshop and other structures.

In their place would be 30 homes - 10 affordable rented and 20 affordable shared ownership - as well as car parking.

Each house would have a back garden and one allocated parking space, with the rented properties having access to communal areas.

The rented homes would be four one-bedroom flats and six two-bedroom flats, to be let to people on the council waiting list.

And there would be nine two-bedroom houses and 11 three-bedroom houses sold on a shared ownership basis.

A statement with the planning application cites river flooding and surface water flooding as the main concern on the site, although Spectrum do not consider houses to be at risk.

A new access road would be built from Grange Road, with bin stores provided for the rented properties.

Concerns were raised over traffic and parking by residents at a consultation event, prior to the plans being submitted.

And Dorset County Council say despite raising a number of points over transport with Spectrum prior to the plans being submitted, they have not been taken on board.

Referring to the new access road, Clare Marshall, transport development liaison engineer said: "If the applicant chooses not to make any of the recommended changes then DCC will not be able to adopt the highway."

A number of residents have responded to the scheme, objecting and raising concerns.

They centre on traffic concerns and parking, the height of the block of flats and the loss of a number of trees.

The plans are likely to go before Christchurch council's planning committee.