CONTROVERSIAL plans to build 21 affordable homes in Worcester have been approved.

Stoke Styler Homes' application to build 13 houses and eight apartments on land adjoining the Maple Leaf pub in Canada Way, Lower Wick, received unanimous approval from Worcester City Council's planning committee this week.

The plans, for a mixture of shared ownership and rented properties, follows a previous application for 13 houses on the site, which would not have been affordable.

Bedwardine Councillor David Clark said he was concerned the planned houses, which will be on a single site, would be "shoe-horned" in. He said the "sheer mass" of buildings would be out of keeping with the area.

He was also concerned the development would create parking problems and was entirely made up of affordable homes, because this was not in line with the council's policy of having mixed-house developments.

However, Coun Francis Lankester welcomed the plan. He said the allocation of 27 parking spaces for 21 homes was "commendably generous".

Coun Paul Denham added: "I think this is a massive improvement on the previous scheme."

Coun Barry Mackenzie-Williams said although there were concerns about the density and height of the proposed buildings, he was pleased they would not all be of uniform appearance.

However, objector Peter Pennycook, of Montreal Close, said a "large apartment block" would be unsuitable for the locality and bedrooms with dormer windows will overlook existing houses.

Agent Andrew Boughton, said the design of the windows ensured homes would not be overlooked.