Planners have given their support in principle for the building of up to nine new homes in Hockley Heath despite residents flooding Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council with objections.

Applicant Frances Ashton originally submitted the plan last summer for the homes on a piece of land adjacent to School Road, Hockley Heath.

The applicant said in the application that the land, previously part of the former Ashton Nurseries site, was located in a sustainable location and development would help meet the need for housing in the area.

But during a consultation period 79 objections were submitted to the authority by frustrated neighbours.

The application was heard at the latest meeting of the authority's planning committee and, during the public speaking section, neighbour Stuart Swinton said: "We don't think this a suitable location due to flooding.

"The site is covered by surface water at least three to six months per year.

"Hockley Heath residents are angry and concerned.

"They are angry at the tsunami of speculative planning applications submitted over the last few months."

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Hockley Heath Parish Council chairman Cllr Greg McDougall said: "Hockley Heath is a small village, limited public transport infrastructure.

"It is inappropriate and unsuitable and I ask you to refuse it."

But chartered surveyor Vicky Chell, representing the applicant, said: "This application is the first stage in seeking consent for a housing development on the site.

"The proposed development will help to meet what is defined as a substantial shortfall of housing in the borough.

"The proposed nine dwellings are an appropriate density of development. The site is accessible by a variety of means of transport.

"We very much hope you will support your officer's recommendation and approve the application before you."

In the members' debate Councillor Bob Grinsell, the committee's chairman, explained they could only look at location, land use and amount of development at this stage.

Cllr Dave Pinwell said: "I am very sympathetic with the residents of Hockley Heath who are in the heat of a gold rush as far as proposals for development are concerned.

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"The village is certainly not capable of sustaining all of them.

"I have severe doubts about the suitability of this piece of land.

"But permission in principle frustrates a lot of the concerns one would want to explore in detail, particularly drainage and ecology issues."

Cllr Grinsell said: "I think this permission in principle – let's face it anything is feasible in principle.

"I could be King of England in principle.

"It's very difficult for us to consider refusal at this point.

"But when the second stage comes back we must look at it very rigorously in terms of what the residents have outlined to us."

When the chairman moved to the vote, six committee members voted in favour with three against.

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"It's approved, we all look forward to stage two coming in front of us," the chairman added.