Plans to bulldoze a former social club in Netley Abbey have been deferred.

Proposals to demolish the Royal British Legion, on Station Road, Netley Abbey, and build nine homes have been delayed after access to the development was deemed unsafe and unacceptable.

The plans for a mix of three, four and five-bedroom homes with garages, parking and green spaces were put forward by Goodwill Homes who say the replacement of the building will benefit the area.

However, during a meeting of the Bursledon, Hamble-Le-Rice and Hound Local Area Committee on Thursday, councillors asked the developer to come up with a safer option so that residents would not have to reverse into the main road as it is “not safe”.

Cllr David Airey, said: “There’s no problem with the design of the building which is in style with the houses on the road. The principle of the development is fine but we don’t want cars reversing out to the main road and we want only one access and not two.

“By deferring it, it gives the developer the opportunity to work with the council and work on the improvements of the proposal.”

The Netley Abbey councillor also asked to have larger buildings at the front and smaller buildings at the back as “it would make access bigger and safer”.

He also highlighted the need to extend yellow lines along Station Road saying it is “an essential must.”

The former social club was bought by the developer after a decline in memberships and a lack of interest from any other community-related operators.

The residential use of the site has then been considered “the most preferable”.

Cllr Airey said: “I am pleased that someone came forward with the proposal. I accept that residential scheme is the right thing to do.”

Cllr Steve Holes said: “ It’s an opportunity to build houses on a new site effectively. It’s sad that we are losing a community building. They are precious, they are rare but we heard that there is no interest to take this site out for community services.”