PLANS to develop business park units in Whiteley have been unanimously approved.

Fulcrum 6 near Solent Way was acquired by Kier Property in 2018 and it now wants to build three units to lease. It claims that one local business has already registered an interest.

Planning officer Robert Green said that action group Whiteley Residents Matter had submitted a petition to the city council “demanding no further development in Whiteley.”

Local resident, Wendy Backwell, spoke against the application over heavy traffic concerns.

She said: “Children walk along that road every day. A child will die and it will be a planner’s fault.”

Ms Backwell also suggested the applicants could move into units in Segensworth, claiming “there are loads of empty ones” in the area.

But civic chiefs analysed the situation and decided the plans did not go against policy, and therefore could not be refused.

Cllr Therese Evans said: “I have no reason to refuse this on planning terms. I feel sorry for the residents, but they have to make sure the road improvements are being sorted.”

Nick Brooks of Kier Property told the committee: “We are confident the land is in demand.There is a lack of supply for units of this size in the area.”

An application to build 44 homes on the land were thrown out after appeal in May last year.

The planning committee said the land was designated for employment use.