A group of villagers say they are being crowded out of their own street by construction traffic and an expected surge in private vehicles.

Residents of Mutton Lane, Brandeston, are feeling the squeeze after planners permitted two separate housing developments, despite an earlier bid for a single development of fewer homes being thrown out partly due to the inadequate road width.

Suffolk Coastal said it judged each application on merit and in line with current national and local policies.

But residents like Nicola Owens have been left feeling hemmed in. “I’m not happy about the traffic it will bring down the lane,” she said.

“I’m not against development as such, but access is becoming a real worry. There isn’t enough room on a single track lane with a blind spot and no footpath.”

An earlier application for nine homes was rejected in 2010, partly because of possible hazards to road users. But a resubmitted bid for six was approved, along with a separate bid for four bungalows.

Another resident, Patience Scott Douglas, said: “We can’t affect the planning process because permission has already been granted. Our concern is this narrow lane, which is used by horse riders, dog walkers and children.”

A Suffolk Coastal spokesman said the first application was outside the existing village boundary and was refused in line with then local and national policy.

He said the second was for fewer houses, with access improvements including a layby, and was approved in line with the Government’s pro-growth agenda. There had also been a reduction in Suffolk Coastal’s supply of land available for housing.

He said the final application, on the site of disused farm buildings, was approved after further policy developments, with the benefit of the access improvements.