Residents in Drake Road, Buckland, are angered about Teign Housing's plans to demolish the nearby garages they rent, in order to build two affordable homes.

They believe the development would push more cars to park on to the roads which are already heavily conjested.

Teign Housing wants to knock down the garages used by residents of Drake Road and build two, three-bedroom homes with their own gardens and garages.

Teignbridge Council has approved use of the site for affordable housing.

Teign Housing will now apply for planning permission to build the homes.

Danny Punter has lived in Drake Road since 1969 and uses his garage regularly.

'Many of us in the neighbourhood park our cars in the garages. If this all goes ahead our cars will be parked on Drake Road. Cars are already nose to tail,' he said.

'We also have disabled people living nearby who use the hardstanding at the garage site to get picked up by friends or relatives as they can't walk far. It's going to be bad for them too.

'I've been renting that garage for 40 years. It seems unfair and it's a shock to the system to hear this news.

'We only heard about the plans on March 30 after receiving a letter from Teign Housing. We had to reply by April 6, they haven't given us much time at all to think about these changes.'

Mr Punter believes that Teign Housing want to get rid of the garages as they need repairing.

'The roofs need to be repaired and maintained and this will cost a lot of money,' he said.

'I think Teign Housing would rather knock the garages down than shell out the money.'

Joe Waldron, who also lives in Drake Road, is concerned about the possibility of the garages being torn down.

'It's terrible, I've been renting a garage there for 30 years,' said Mr Waldron.

'It's going to make my car insurance go up, as parking on a road is a less secure location.'

Residents have been liaising with Teignbridge MP Richard Younger-Ross about the proposed development.

Mr Younger-Ross said: 'I have discussed the site with a delegation of residents. They are concerned that if the garages come down, up to 12 cars will be pushed on to the road. Their argument is that there is already enough traffic on Drake Road and it doesn't need more, as there simply isn't space. I think there is some merit in what they are saying.

'I will be contacting Teign Housing and the relevant organisations to make sure that the residents' views are heard and properly considered.'

A spokesman from Teign Housing said the organisation has been working with Teignbridge Council to identify council owned sites which can be used to develop affordable homes.

It states that the garage site at Drake Road, which is owned by the local authority and is managed by Teign Housing, has 11 garages, three of which are empty.

It also says that there is a smaller site near by, which has four garages, with only two being used.

It aims to turn the smaller site into a parking area to compensate and alleviate any parking issues.

Jo Reece, Teign Housing's deputy chief executive, said: 'The sites have caused management problems in the past due to antisocial behaviour and will be expensive to repair.

'We have consulted local residents during the initial planning stages, and we will continue to do so throughout the planning application process.'