An old car repair garage site in the town centre will be developed into 23 flats built.

But members of Swindon Borough Council’s planning committee – even those who voted for it – were concerned by a lack of parking.

Harry Barclay, of Morse Street Developments, has been given the go ahead to build the apartments in three different-sized blocks on a triangular plot of land at the end of Morse Street.

But the people who live in the 23 flats will have to share only 12 parking spaces between them.

And they won’t be allowed to apply for residents' permits for parking on the densely-populated and already-congested streets nearby.

Mr Barclay told the committee he was the owner of the site and added: “I’m fully financed for these proposals and I’m very excited to get this approval and to get on to site and start on this development.”

But not all the councillors were in favour.

Committee member and ward councillor Stan Paja had 'called in' the plan for discussion.

He said: “This proposal will change the area dramatically.

"It doesn’t fit in with the surroundings.

“The lack of parking, means there has to be the hope that 50 per cent of the people who live there don’t have cars and there are no affordable homes included.”

Mr Barclay said all the flats would be made available to the government’s help-to-buy scheme, and could be bought with a five per cent deposit of around £7,000, suggesting he hopes to sell them for £140,000.

Cllr Vera Tomlinson said: “There are 23 flats but only 12 parking spaces.

"That’s a very big problem for me.”

But when the matter was put to the vote, Coun Tomlinson’s was one of eight to approve the scheme against six against.

Adriana Lioni lives just down the street from the development site. She said: “I’m very worried about the parking. The streets are already really crowded.

"People go off to work in the day and it’s not too bad then but in the evenings and at weekends it’s impossible to park your car near here.

"And it’s not just the people who live in the flats. They’ve got friends and visitors who’ll want to park. We really struggle now. I think this will make it worse.”

For a full round-up of the planning committee meeting see page 22