CITY bosses have voted to allow new infill development in Compton village near Winchester.

Two applications to build homes in garden plots were given the go-ahead at a planning meeting at the city's Guildhall.

A 1920s house in Compton Street is to be demolished and a five-bedroom house and two two-bedroom cottages built in its place.

Neighbours objected to the plans saying the house, St Martins Close, was one of the oldest non-listed buildings in the street.

Compton and Shawford Parish Council also objected to the application saying it would erode the conservation area.

Planning officers recommended the plans be approved and members of the city council's planning committee agreed.

A second application, to build a house in the garden of a home in Shepherd's Lane was met with opposition from planning officers because of traffic safety.

Members were also told that granting the application may set a precedent meaning it would be hard to refuse future applications.

Parish councillors supported the application, saying it was reasonable infill.

Applicant Martin Bell pointed out similar applications in Compton had been won on appeal.

"To refuse permission for this would result in the fifth appeal at Compton Down," he said. "All the evidence points to this being successful."

He added the application was for one house and was not comparable with cases such as Winchester's exclusive Chilbolton Avenue, which has been subject to several applications for large infill developments.

Councillor Frank Pearson said: "If we have no further development in Compton the junctions are never going to be improved."

The application was permitted subject to conditions.