PLANS to build 34 homes on a Worcester housing estate have been given the green light despite concerns the land could flood and that not enough of the new houses will be affordable.

Worcester City Council's planning committee gave the go ahead to the development in Dugdale Drive, Warndon Villages, at a meeting on Thursday.

The homes will include 30 per cent affordable housing.

Committee members said they would have preferred 40 per cent, but Persimmon Homes submitted the application the day before the authority adopted a new policy insisting all developments of 12 homes or more included at least 40 per cent affordable housing.

In return for planning permission, the developer will provide 14 allotments, a kickabout area and a youth shelter and give Worcestershire County Council £63,669 for Lyppard Grange Primary School and Elgar Technology College.

The developer will set aside £41,000 for the youth shelter and £21,809 for the upkeep of the open space.

Councillor Andy Roberts said: "Sort the flooding problem out first, then develop. We shouldn't carry on building when we have got flooding problems."

He also said more consideration should be given to the youth facilities as part of the section 106 agreement, especially as Warndon Villages Football Club were raising £100,000 to try and buy their base from Worcestershire County Council at the County Sports Ground in Claines.

Allister Smith, who lives nearby at 16th century grade two listed Mabs Cottage, said the area was prone to flooding and there should be a larger "buffer zone" of trees between the proposed development and the conservation area.

However, David Stentiford, of the Pegasus Planning Group, speaking on behalf of Persimmon Homes, said the plans had met standards put down by the Environment Agency on flooding.

Coun David Tibbutt said there was a risk that if the affordable housing was put in one block it could lead to future residents feeling like they were living in a "ghetto" and said he was in favour of "pepper-potting" the affordable homes around the site.

But Mr Stentiford said there were not enough affordable homes in the block to give the impression of a ghetto.

Alan Coleman, head of development control at Worcester City Council, who was quoting the crime reduction manager, also said there was a need for youth provision in the area to tackle anti-social behaviour - the area had previously been the subject of a section 30 dispersal order to stop youths gathering.

Councillors gave the green light on condition one of the plots of housing was moved to make sure there was a larger buffer zone between the new homes and the conservation area.

Councillors also recommended changes be made to the section 106 agreement to include a consultation about youth facilities.