MP, Mark Oaten, has joined a chorus of protest over plans to bulldoze a Victorian house on St Giles' Hill, Winchester and replace it with homes.

St Swithun's School sold off its boarding house, Hillcroft, in Northbrook Avenue, to London-based developer, Wates Homes, last year.

But residents have hit out at plans to demolish the large property, which dates from the 1880s and replace it with 12 flats and two houses.

They say the landmark building should be converted into dwellings, rather than knocked down. Some 30 members of the public attended a meeting with Mr Oaten to look at the plans.

The Lib-Dem MP said: "I am opposed to this, not only because it would result in the demolition of an attractive old building, but because the modern design of the new flats is out of keeping with the area.

"We need new homes in Winchester, but in this case it would be better achieved by converting the existing building into eight flats.

"That may be harder to do and may mean less profit for builders, but there just has to be a more sensible way."

One objector, Penny Jeffreys, of Northbrook Avenue, said she lived in a "successful" conversion of another former St Swithun's boarding house.

"It would be a great shame if Hillcroft was knocked down. It is one of the original houses on the hill and can be seen for miles. It is a landmark building.

"We are not saying it should not be used for more dwellings, but there is another way of doing it. It could be converted."

Mrs Jeffreys thought the proposed scheme looked like "university accommodation" as it was four-storeys with flat roofs. It was "out of character" with the conservation area.

Gavin Haig, bursar of St Swithun's School, defended the scheme. "From the school's point of view we are quite happy with the plans.

"We think the developers are making the best of the opportunity in terms of developing the site. The architectural merits of the old building are a matter of personal taste. That is up to individuals."

Mr Haig declined to say how much the school got for Hillcroft. St Swithun's had sold the boarding house as it was half-a-mile from the main school.

"We have built a new boarding house on site. We have got about six boarding houses and they are all on the school site apart from Hillcroft."

Winchester City Council has received more than 40 letters of objection to the scheme, which is due to be considered by the planners on January 30th.