A handful of petitioners were at the Town Hall for Wednesday night's meeting and they heckled from the public gallery as councillors decided there was no real basis for refusing the plans.

Three one-bedroom flats, two three-bedroom homes and 20 two-bedroom flats can now be built on land opposite Helenswood School and backing on to Harkness Drive. These will almost all be social housing.

There will also be extra car parking and a cycle store.

One petitioner, Nicola Ashby, said the land would be better used by creating a new open space for existing residents.

She also said: "We are very concerned about the level of anti-social behaviour in Harkness Drive and have been working with the Safer Hastings Partnership to tackle it.

"An increase in social housing could place even greater strain on the police and wardens."

Peter Waller, a town planned speaking on behalf of the applicant, said work had been done to minimalise the impact of anti-social behaviour after consulting with the police.

He added: "We designed these to provide comfortable homes in an attractive site for people who would not otherwise be able to afford new homes."

During a short debate, councillors agreed there was no reason to turn down the plans.

Cllr Godfrey Daniel said: "I can understand where Miss Ashby is coming from because there are quite a few problems in Harkness Drive but that is a matter for the police. You cannot blame it on this development when it has not even been built yet.

"You have to be very careful to assume that social housing automatically means problems."

The councillors voted unanimously in favour of the plans.