Plans to build 179 homes on the edge of a market town have been approved. 

South Norfolk Council has given the green light for a bid to build on a 20.7-acre site - roughly the size of 14 football pitches - between Shelfanger Road and Heywood Road/Burston Road on the edge of Diss. 

The application will see up to 179 homes, plus a new road, built. Of the homes, 33pc (59) will be classed as affordable.   

The scheme also includes an area of public open space and 1.58 acres of land for the expansion of Diss Cemetery, which is next to the site. 

The plans were previously been brought before the council's planning committee last month but were pushed back for councillors to get more information about how much impact the development would have on surrounding roads.  

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Addressing Wednesday’s meeting, officers said the Highways team at Norfolk County Council had raised no concerns about the application and the new link road would help mitigate issues.  

Eric Taylor, from Diss Town Council, said the scheme was one of the most scrutinised he has seen, having been first consulted on it over seven years ago.  

He added that the town council would have preferred the access to the site to have followed the old farm track but they were told by the highways team said that would not be viable. 

“The developer came up with a lot of suggestions, it seems they have virtually followed everything highways recommended,” he said. 

“We still feel the road is viable but not ideal, but we are still happy to support it in the meantime.” 

The bid covers only the broad outlines of the scheme. Details relating to how the estate will look and the exact number of homes will be covered by a future submission. 

The planning committee voted unanimously to approve.