The demolition of eight flats, two semi-detached houses and 10 garages in Out Westgate, Bury St Edmunds, was set to be approved by St Edmundsbury Borough Council's development control committee yesterday.

Plans submitted by Havebury Housing Partnership propose building 30 properties, which would be a mix of one to four-bedroom houses and flats.

The planning application was previously approved, but was resubmitted with alterations to the elevations of the buildings.

Resident Simon Lay, who objected to the plan, felt so strongly about it he distributed around 100 flyers to neighbours highlighting his concerns.

Mr Lay, of Hospital Road, said: "This is, quite frankly, over-development of the worst kind.

"Bury should be, in my opinion, about sympathetic development that is right for the area, the town and, most importantly, the people who live there."

The Suffolk Preservation Society and Bury Society also objected to the scheme, saying the design was inappropriate in its context.

In a joint letter, the societies said: "It will deliver a sub-standard living environment for the tenants, in our professional view.

"It has the clear potential to be housing encouraging, generating or bringing about, because of its poor design and layout, anti-social behaviour, to become a ghetto area."

Planning officers recommended the development for approval, subject to conditions.

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