In an ideal world, a patch of land off Redhill Close in Westdene, Brighton, could be used for its original purpose of playing fields.

But this is Brighton and Hove, a city trapped between the Downs and the sea where spare land is at a premium.

It has one of the worst housing problems of any city outside London, with high prices and not enough places for people to live.

Small wonder the Sussex Overseas Housing Society has decided the land is a good place on which to build 122 low-cost homes.

Predictably, people living nearby do not like the idea and have formed a community association to oppose it.

They list a range of reasons, from a predicted increase in traffic to the loss of a greenfield site.

One or two have even dared to be politically incorrect and say they don't want social housing in the area.

Residents have already seen off a plan for 45 homes on the site, which was rejected after a public inquiry.

They may have more trouble in persuading a council keen on low-cost housing that this development should not be built.

A compromise might be to allow some open space to be retained on the site, which has been a pleasant green lung for many years.

Even if this is rejected, the residents will have the bonus of having created a true community spirit in the area by forming a permanent association.