PLANS to build almost 500 houses on the Princess Margaret Hospital site have been given the go-ahead.

To the disappointment of the Okus Area Residents Association councillors voted in favour of the Bloor Homes development for 478 homes last night.

Outline planning permission for the development was granted in March 2003 but a detailed application by Bloor to build 520 houses was rejected in February.

The developers then re-applied reducing the number of homes by 42 and their application was accepted despite strong opposition from some councillors and from the residents association.

Coun Fionuala (Old Town and Lawn, Con), said: "The developers have reduced the number of homes but that's not going far enough.

"The main concern I have has always been the density of homes on the site and the highways issue.

"If this goes ahead I would like to arrange with the planning officer to meet in 2015 at 8.30am to see the traffic gridlock.

"I would urge you all to consider this application very carefully."

Coun Jemima Milton (Wrough-ton and Chiseldon, Con), said that if the council did reject the proposals Bloor Homes could appeal.

And if they won the council would face hefty legal costs.

"It concerns me greatly that if they win the appeal we would lose out as an authority financially and in terms of our control over the site.

"I feel we need to push this forward."

Terry King, chairman of the Okus Area Residents Association has been campaigning against the development for two and a half years.

He believes the number of homes will cause traffic chaos and that there will not be enough community facilities on the site.

"I gave my views exactly the same as tonight two and a half years ago and the council saw fit to ignore my views and go ahead.

"That's when it all went wrong and if they had listened to my views in my first place this would not be going ahead and they would not be in the mess they findin now.

"I'm gutted this is a real mess."

Diana Milne