Councillors have given their approval for plans to build sheltered accommodation on the same site as a new school in Tooting.

Viridian Housing is set to build a four-storey care block in the Professional Centre, Franciscan Road.

Wandsworth Council’s planning committee approved planning permission during a meeting at the town hall on Thursday, despite more than 250 objections from residents.

The plan is for sections of the building to be knocked down to make way for 45 apartments, with on-site care facilities for the elderly occupants.

Planning permission has already been granted to build a primary school on the site, run by the Graveney Trust.

Campaigners said the care block would limit play space for students and block light.

Councillor Rex Osborn, who spoke on behalf of residents, said: “Whatever the planning rules say,  common sense says the proposed housing development is too big to put next to a planned school.

“It is an overdevelopment whose design is starkly out of keeping with the area.”