PLANS for a housing development on the edge of Kington have been approved despite councillors' reservations over the design of the houses.

Forty-six houses will be built on 3.6 hectares of open land to the west of the old Eardisley Road, at the south-eastern edge of the town.

The proposed houses will be a mix of one, two, three, four and five-bedroom homes. Thirty-five percent of them will be affordable housing, in line with council policy.

At last Wednesday's planning meeting, Kington councillor Terry James said he was pleased the application was for the same housing density as outline plans which were approved in September 2007.

He voiced concerns over the effect on parking at a Masonic Hall south of the site, which is used for a number of community events.

"I am very disappointed at the standard of design of these houses," said Coun James.

"They are so dreary and there are at least 10 million houses the same as that throughout the country."

Coun Sebastian Bowen said he was sure there was a UDP (Unitary Development Plan) requirement for good design and urged developers to "think again, think better and think imaginatively".

"You have a lovely site there and you're blighting it with boring little boxes," he said.

Coun Alan Seldon said: "If we refuse the application today I fear it will come back with more density, which is worse than the design of the houses."

The project's developers will pay for the upkeep of a children's play area on the site for 10 years before responsibility passes to Herefordshire Council.