SOUTHAMPTON residents have expressed their concern after plans to turn a house into a children's home were submitted to civic chiefs.

An application has been submitted to Southampton City Council proposing the change of a house on Pound Street in Bitterne to the use of a children's home.

The application was submitted by Dr Paradzai Chitongo, co-founder and CEO at Highlands Care Solutions based in Southampton.

However the plans have been met with a number of objections from concerned residents raising issues with parking and "placing [vulnerable young people] practically opposite a pub".

The application seeks to change the use of the house from a private residential building to a four-bed children's residential home. No structural changes are expected.

Mrs Lauren Waldron of Pound Street said in a publicly-available letter to the council: "Given the application states it is for vulnerable children but aged 16-25, I'm not sure how this area would be great for them? Given the circumstances that surround them and placing them practically opposite a pub, a main school route and access to betting, drugs and drink minutes away, this doesn't even make sense? Shows that the applicant hasn't done any research about the area. And certainly not thinking about their tenants.

"We have a lot of young families in this area, I think to out a property as described here wouldn't be fair on current people who live here. We do have a lovely community that is growing and thriving, so why do something to damage that."

Mr Vincent Avellino, of Pound Street, said: "No thought has been given to the existing residents in the surrounding area which includes children, vulnerable and elderly residents.

"There is a pub situated just metres away from this property which does not help with alcoholics being housed in this property.

"No details have been given of how many staff will be resident. If no staff are resident then will there be staff on site 24/7 or will there be times when no staff are on site supervising. Parking in this road is difficult. There is no off-road parking to the front of this property."

The Daily Echo contacted Highlands Care Solutions but they did not respond before the paper went to print.