FORMER shops will be demolished and replaced with four new homes despite the plans being branded “ugly” by a councillor.

Southend Council have approved the plans for new homes in Woodside Parade, by J Thomas of Harrison Developments, which will see the empty retail units demolished and new three and five-bedroom homes built in their place.

The council received three objections from neighbours saying the new 1.5-storey homes in Leigh would be “out of keeping with the surrounding bungalows” and there was a lack of parking in the area.

Speaking at the meeting on Wednesday, Stephen Aylen, Independent councillor for Belfairs Ward, strongly objected to the scheme and said the homes would be “overbearing and ugly”. He said: “The layout and height is out of keeping with the street scene and detrimental to the character and appearance of the area.

“The proposed development by reason of its size and scale will result in overbearing form and development and will result in loss of privacy for nearby occupiers through unmitigated overlooking.

“There is already parking stress in the surrounding area. There is no off-street parking due to the narrow road. Balconies will allow potential occupiers unrestricted views over 12 rear gardens of adjoining properties – thus affecting 60 Belfairs residents.

“The proposed development would appear ugly and overbearing and out of keeping with the street scene, and to the detriment of character and appearance of the area contrary to national policy.”

Mr Aylen said a report to councillors contained errors, including wrongly saying the No.29 bus goes to Southend Hospital, and he also disputed the number of retail units that would be lost, claiming it would be five, not three.

However, Kevin Buck, Conservative councillor for Prittlewell Ward, backed the scheme.

He said: “Given that the options are to either leave some unused retail units in place that appeared to have suffered as a micro high street, the way that many high streets are with people shopping differently. The alternative is we can have what looks like to me some quite nice in-keeping residential properties.

“Notwithstanding that I think we’d struggle to find a reason to refuse it on planning grounds.”