A developer has increased the number of homes it wishes to build on a Suffolk site that is argued to be vital to wildlife.

Crest Nicholson, the main developer of the Cedars Park estate in Stowmarket, has applied to add 102 homes to the community, between Ragtail Drive, Elizabeth Way and the Old Stowupland Road.

The application is now three homes larger than the original informal plans, revealed in the EADT in July.

The proposals for the site, which have so far received 30 objections, on Mid Suffolk District Council’s planning website, is designated in the Stowmarket Area Action Plan as having high levels of biodiversity. The homes will be made up of eight one-bedroom flats, eight two-bedroom flats, 10 two-bedroom houses, 57 three-bedroom houses and 19 homes with four or more bedrooms.

A Crest Nicholson spokeswoman said: “Cedars Park is a very popular residential development; the masterplan was established by Mid Suffolk a number of years ago and has always shown ‘Phase 6C’ as the final phase of development.

“Originally, plans were in place to build a slightly smaller number of larger detached units, however the scheme has since evolved and plans are now in place to provide a higher proportion of smaller accommodation units, suitable for first time buyers, young families and downsizers, and which is supported by the council’s strategic housing market assessment.

“The scheme density is in line with other phases in Stowmarket and complies with all necessary standards.”

Stowmarket Town Council will be discussing the application tomorrow night.