A PROPERTY in Wick Lane acquired by Christchurch council to pave the way for a future extension of the adjoining car park has instead been sold to a housing association with plans to build seven new affordable homes.

Councillors controversially voted to sell the site at below its market value to the Western Challenge Housing Association, which approached the town hall after failing to secure another potential development site.

Leader of the Council Cllr Alan Griffiths defended the discount deal as "an opportunity that was too good to miss" and said it would save Western Challenge losing a substantial government grant for much-needed affordable housing in Christchurch.

"The provision of affordable housing is one of this council's priorities so we have agreed to dispose of the land at below market value for the benefit of local people to provide some badly-needed accommodation," said Cllr Griffiths.

Plans for seven homes on the site of 11 Wick Lane have been drawn up and are expected to go before the council's planning control committee soon.

There, council is also proposing to develop a strip of land behind a neighbouring shop property to add it to the current car park.

Subject to planning permission, Western Challenge will carry out the development - conversion of the existing house into two flats and building a pair of semi-detached houses and a terrace of three new homes on adjoining land, including the present car park exit.

Meanwhile, the car park will be redesigned to incorporate an exit at the current entrance off Wick Lane.

Cllr Griffiths said: "The plans for both the housing development and the change of use for the land behind 13 Wick Lane still need to go before our planning control committee.

"If successful, there will be no loss to the number of car parking spaces at Wick Lane car park and Christchurch will benefit from quality housing for local people which will fit in sympathetically with the existing buildings."