WORK will start this autumn on building 52 luxury apartments for the elderly in Romsey after plans were approved by Test Valley Borough Council’s planning committee.

Renaissance Retirement’s 52-home scheme at the local authority’s former Romsey offices in Duttons Road will be known as Fleur de Lis Romsey.

Hampshire-based Renaissance revised its earlier controversial plans that were rejected last month over fears that the development was too big.

Renaissance has since reduced the size of the development, which originally included 54 flats.

Residents in Station Road, who feared that their homes would be overlooked, again protested but this time the plans were given unanimous approval.