Developers have expressed delight after community leaders gave their backing to proposals for 26 new homes in Wenhaston, despite considerable opposition in the village.

Parish councillors had called the scheme “inappropriate and incongruous for its setting” with inadequate access, with the affordable houses crammed into one corner, creating a ghetto-like appearance.

Suffolk Coastal’s north area development management committee approved the plan for the land off St Michael’s Way. The 26 homes will include eight affordable properties

Robert Eburne, planning manager at Hopkins and Moore, said: “In developing our proposals we have listened carefully to local communities and where possible adapted our ideas to reflect their comments at earlier consultation events.

“We are delighted that as a result our plans to build high-quality homes at Wenhaston have now been approved. There is an acute housing shortage both nationally and locally.

“As a local housing builder we are committed to help meet this need and help local people in a way that preserves and enhances the character of the communities.

“The design of the developments will be supported by using high-quality materials and local suppliers, creating local jobs as well as homes.”

Access to the site will be widened following community feedback to ease the impact of extra traffic, and the company will contribute £130,000 to support improvements to Wenhaston Primary School, pre-school education and recreational facilities in the parish.