Plans for 46 new homes have been approved in a development which will also preserve two locally listed buildings.

The city council’s planning committee agreed the proposals by Guinness Developments, including 18 homes available for rent or part-purchase through shared ownership in Kemp Town.

Two Edwardian Villas at the former St Benedict’s Convent site in Manor Road, dating from around 1906, will be converted into 16 flats and new buildings surrounding them will provide 22 houses and eight more flats.

Planning committee chair Coun Christopher Hawtree was pleased with the proposal being passed.

He said: “It was a proposal with a slew of considerations - including the question of trees - for members to debate. This took some while, but all aspects of it were well aired, many astute comments were made.

"It was a close vote, but I think that - when complete - the existing buildings will be seen to better effect and it will be another in the area's enclaves of new and historic buildings existing side by side."