Plans for 40 houses in a mid Suffolk village have been granted planning permission, despite safety and congestion concerns.

The outline planning application for homes off Back Hills, in Botesdale, was granted by Mid Suffolk District Council’s planning committee subject to conditions around a 30mph limit extension, cycle access.

The plans, which includes two areas of public open space and gifting an area of woodland to St Botolph’s Primary School, were recommended for approval.

Mid Suffolk is currently failing to meet housing targets and has no local plan, so despite the plans being against many local policies, their is a presumption in favour of housebuilding.

Ernie Baxter, vice chairman of Botesdale Parish Council, said they have concerns over the access on to the road.

He said: “Our biggest gripe was the access. Most of us agree that there is a need for housing in the village, especially for the younger generation.

“The road is unsafe and their no visibility. We already have the school and the health centre in there, so there is a lot of traffic.”

The application has been made by developer Burgess Homes, who will need to submit further detailed applications before any house building can go ahead.

A planning statement from the developer’s agent, Phil Cobbold Planning, said: “The application is accompanied by a traffic statement which demonstrates that the proposed means of vehicular access from Hall Lane (B1113) can be achieved satisfactorily and that the level of traffic generated by the development can be accommodated by the local road network.

“Importantly, traffic can access the A143 without going through the village past residential properties. Therefore the development will not materially affect traffic levels or result in congestion in The Street.

“Future residents of the development will have two pedestrian routes to the centre of the village. There is an existing footway which runs along the entire B1113 site frontage which leads back to The Street.”

Several objectors questioned whether there was a housing need in the village, highlighting a lack of facilities and concerns the health centre may not be able to cope.