A MAJOR housing development has been given the go-ahead in Worcester, despite a dispute over affordable homes.

A total of 28 homes will be created on derelict land off Gillam Street, Rainbow Hill, with eight of them priced below market value to hep first time buyers.

But the affordable homes will be made available to people who want to buy under a shared ownership deal, rather than for rent. It means they will only be of use to people with a reasonable salary who can afford a mortgage, rather than those who only have the means to rent. Some members of the planning committee at the Guildhall urged the developer to change tack and allow the eight homes to be rented.

Coun Geoff Williams, of the Labour group, said: "This does incorporate affordable housing, but not affordable rented housing. My concern is that from now on, in relation to previously developed land, with the provision for affordable housing, any developer can say there are exceptional reasons for not providing it.

"We normally try and get a balance on rented homes and shared equity, and I'm not convinced with this." Former Mayor Coun Aubrey Tarbuck agreed and said there was "a great need" for affordable homes available for rent only.

He said: "I agree with this - the need for rented accommodation is great, and while we are getting affordable ownership in some of these homes, I would prefer to see rented accommodation, because we really do need it."

The amount of affordable homes on the site - even if none of them will be available for rent - makes up 30 per cent of the entire development, which meets Guildhall policy.

The land, which used to be playing fields for Bishop Perowne High School, will now be turned into 28 homes after it was approved at the Guildhall. Twenty of them will be semi-detached and the remainder will be detached, with access off Goodrest Walk.