Brentford FC's Griffin Park stadium will be replaced by 75 family homes when the club moves to its new home in Lionel Road South.

A collection of two to four-storey houses at the site was given the go-ahead by Hounslow Council's planning committee on Thursday (September 3).

The club already had outline permission for the development, which will help fund its new 20,000-seater stadium up the road, but the finer details had to be approved. Demolition of the existing stadium cannot begin until the new ground is ready.

Councillors approved the proposals by Prime Place, a subsidiary of Willmott Dixon, despite concerns from a number of residents living in New Road.

Stephen O'Reilly, who said he represented Griffin Park Residents - a group of 150 households around the stadium - told committee members they were concerned about the height of the scheme, particularly the three-storey homes planned for New Road.

He said some of the new homes would be taller than the current stadium, and almost 50% higher than existing homes, which he said would be overlooked.

They claimed the initial public consultation had been misleading, with changes later made to the designs residents had been shown, and the developer had been slow to provide additional information.

Calling for the decision to be deferred to allow for further consultation, he said: "These large structures would bring an overwhelming loss of privacy."

The developer argued that it was "essential" for the development of the new stadium that the Griffin Park plans were approved without delay.

Simon Taylor, Prime Place's planning manager, said they had tried to be sensitive to the needs of the site's neighbours, and upper storey windows had been set back to provide more privacy. He claimed the plans reflected "the grain of the neighbourhood".

'Homes for families who will invest in the area'

The plans were also backed by the landlady of The Griffin pub, at the corner of the stadium. She said there were too many flats being built in the area and welcomed the plans for new family homes.

"These are homes for families who will invest in the area and become part of the community. The flats haven't lent anything to the community or the businesses here. Most of the people living in them work in London and just come here to sleep," she said.

Developers said the memorial garden, playground and orchard at the centre of the development had been designed to honour the ground's history.

They told councillors how a respected landscape gardener, who has exhibited at the Chelsea Flower Show and is a Brentford fan, had even arranged the trees in a 4,3,3 formation as if they were players on the pitch.

Councillors raised concerns about the fact there was no affordable housing included in the scheme, which they were told was because the cost of the new stadium meant this was not financially viable.

However, council officers said if the homes proved more lucrative than expected, the conditions meant affordable housing or a contribution towards it would have to be included in plans for the Duffy site beside the new stadium when they are considered.

Brentford councillor Mel Collins called for the vote to be deferred to iron out a number of issues, but the plans were approved by the majority of councillors.

The development of the Lionel Road South stadium is subject to a public inquiry due to begin on Tuesday (September 8), following a complaint about a compulsory purchase order issued to secure some of the land needed.

Should the hearing uphold the CPO, the club hopes to begin work at the site by the end of the year and aims to complete the new stadium in time for the 2018/19 season.