A BATTLE to save a green space in St John’s was lost by residents after councillors agreed to allow a plan to build 25 affordable homes.

Fortis Living plans to demolish an existing house on Hopton Street to gain access to the site and build the homes on roughly half of Sanctuary Park – a field surrounding Windsor Avenue allotments and next to St John’s cemetery.

The original 37 home plan was deferred at two city council planning meetings in August and October last year with the latter postponement to give the council a chance to carry out in-depth flooding studies on the popular dog-walking spot.

Tim Schoonenberg, speaking on behalf of the residents, said he could not believe the application was even being discussed, calling the park “human breathing space” which was becoming increasingly scarce in a city with rising pollution levels.

Mr Schoonenberg said residents were not against housing in St John’s but just wanted to keep their park. He said concerns were “falling on deaf ears” because the land had been included in the South Worcestershire Development Plan (SWDP).

Cllr Chris Cawthorne, who represents St John’s, said she would support the scheme despite that decision making her very unpopular.

She said: “I can’t put aside the families living in unsuitable accommodation. Those people deserve for me to vote for this scheme.”

Cllr Roger Berry supported the proposal and said he was disappointed the city had lost the possibility of 12 extra affordable homes because of the revised plan.

He said those opposing the plan should have voiced their concern when the SWDP was being put together.

He said the green space “was not at all used” three years ago, which drew groans from the public gallery.

Cllr Berry said it was unfair to put further restrictions on Fortis and said a new play area was not the social housing provider’s responsibility and was a city council issue.

Cllr Richard Udall, who represents St John’s and had previously said the area would be “glum and soulless” if the homes were built, called for a further deferment.

He said the council’s planning committee should be given the chance to digest a 200-page document that was submitted by Fortis only one day before the meeting.

He also wanted to see some conditions included which would protect nesting birds, the nearby allotments and put forward the possibility of a community orchard.

The deferment was rejected because Cllr Berry would not withdraw his proposal to approve the plan. The plan was passed by seven votes to two with one abstention.