RESIDENTS must be alert to the high cost of renting Winchester council houses when schemes are proposed, a meeting was warned.

Public debate over housebuilding plans must include consider the rising cost of living in the city, Liberal Democrat councillor Jamie Scott and Labour's Janet Berry said.

It came as cabinet housing committee pressed on with plans for 13 new council houses in Hillier Way, Abbotts Barton.

The houses will be let to local people but Cllr Scott said he was "scared" by estimated rent levels, such as £212 per week for a three-bedroom house.

Warning locals to be more "savvy," he told the meeting: "It could be a sting in the tail caused to us when we go out to the community and they say 'you're building properties on our land and we can't afford to live there.'"

Conservative councillor Ian Tait added that there may be "sensitivities" about the "type of people" going into council houses, "particularly if they're on benefits".

Bob Gath, head of housing finance, said the council's ability to change rents was restricted by the terms of borrowing which is part-funding the scheme.

Some residents oppose the Abbotts Barton scheme because it will deprive them of open space.

The council says it will contribute towards landscaping in the area to make up for any loss.

A planning application is set to be prepared after the project was approved by the committee on Wednesday.