Plans to expand a hospital car park have been approved despite neighbours’ concerns.

Oxleas NHS Trust has applied to extend Erith Hospital’s car park by another 29 spaces to “benefit staff and patients.”

According to the application, it’s needed because of an increase in the services provided at the hospital.

The spaces will primarily be for staff, and will only be accessed during the hospital’s regular opening hours.

Neighbours had complained that extending the car park could “affect property prices” and bring security issues, according to a report.

Conditions including lighting and hours of use were included in the plans.

Councillor Nicola Taylor said: “Those conditions are important to the people around there and in the interest of goodwill to ensure that residents feel like they are being treated well we do need to make sure these conditions are enforced.”

The plans were given the green light at a council planning meeting.

Earlier this year councillors were told Erith Hospital was in dire need of a review to keep up with NHS pressures.