RESIDENTS have lost their battle to block new flats being built in a historic area of the city.

But protesters have wrung a promise from city planning bosses that they will look into making Rockstone Lane a conservation area so future development is more in keeping with the road.

City planning chiefs had thrown out plans to build a house in Cranbury Terrace two years ago because of the impact it would have on neighbouring Victorian cottages in Rockstone Lane - the historic route from the city to Portsmouth.

But developers appealed against the decision and an independent planning inspector gave the go-ahead for the controversial scheme.

In the latest twist to the saga, developers reapplied to the council to build three two-bedroom flats on the site which would have been occupied by the house.

Councillors were told that the size of the building was exactly the same as the house which had been given the green light at the 2001 inquiry.

Jennepher Parry Davies told them that the new building would have a "nightmare" impact on fellow residents in Rockstone Lane.

She added that the proposed building was out of keeping with others in the area.

She said: "The construction of this site next year is going to be a total nightmare for us. I have not heard of anybody who is in favour of this proposal.

"Why are we seeking to destroy a unique part of Southampton?"

Councillor Alec Samuels - who had sat on the planning committee which threw out the original plans - said he regretted giving planning permission to the development but there was nothing the committee could do to prevent the work going ahead.

He said: "I was against it for all the reasons that were given. It is a great pity that this development should take place. It is also a great pity that Rockstone Lane is not included in the conservation area.

"That would surely strengthen the position of the residents. The problem here is that planning permission already exists. Unfortunately we are over a barrel."

Councillor Sue Blatchford added that due to the planning inspector's approval for the development at the inquiry the decision had been taken out of the planning committee's hands.

She said: "It is very difficult. I can understand how residents feel about the change in the area."

Chairman of the planning and rights of way panel Councillor John Slade said: "It is a nice building but it is in the wrong place. There is no way we would win an appeal."

Members of the committee granted permission for the flats - but also asked for planning bosses to look at if it was possible to include Rockstone Lane in the existing conservation area in future.