EIGHT new homes will be built at the Wantage Tennis Club site despite councillors’ fears about road safety.

The club won permission for a smaller development of six homes at the site in July last year, which it hoped would make it £50,000.

At a meeting of the Vale of White Horse planning committee on Wednesday night, councillors agreed to allow the extra two homes to be built at the site in Foliat Drive, despite opposition.

Catherine Webber questioned the need for two additional properties. She said: “I cannot see how these extra cars will be able to safely move about in these tight spaces.

“Why was this development changed? Was it just sheer greed of trying to make more money?”

The new plans were submitted by the same housing developer the club worked with previously – Newbury-based Donnington New Homes.

Each new house will have its own parking space and there will be three off-street visitor spaces for the whole development.

Jenny Hannaby said: “There are no spaces for people now. How will they be able to accommodate these new houses?

“I think this is going to be extremely dangerous where these houses will be built, because one of them has got to reverse out on to the road and they will not be able to see.”

In its planning application, land manager Philip Simmons said “closeboard fencing” would provide privacy for residents.

He said: “The scheme layout and the size of dwellings has been designed to reflect the juxtaposition of the site and the surrounding dwellings, and it is considered that the development is of a style and density that is suitable to its location for good quality, well designed family housing.”

Vale planning officer Charlotte Brewerton said the new scheme was an “efficient redevelopment of the site” and recommended the council’s planning committee to approve. The application was passed by five votes to three, with two abstaining.

The club plans to sell its old courts to a housing developer to fund a bespoke new facility at Manor Road Memorial Park.

It plans to build four new private courts next to two existing ones which it would refurbish but keep public.

Vale of White Horse District Council runs the Manor Road tennis courts and anyone who wants to use them has to buy a key from the council to get access, which costs £118.95 for six months, or £19.85 for one month.