Controversial outline plans for 150 homes in Felixstowe n have been approved despite concerns.

Yesterday evening (Tuesday, 24 September), members of East Suffolk's planning committee discussed Generator Optima Group's plans for up to 150 homes on agricultural land north of Conway Close and Swallow Lane, in Felixstowe.

The homes were proposed in June 2021 and deferred in May this year to allow for an independent highway and transport review of the plans and their effects.

This time around, the application received 46 objection letters, with councillors bringing several of the same concerns up during the meeting, including traffic, loss of agricultural land and the size of the development.

Cllr Mike Nimney said although Gulpher Road, the site's limit to the north, was designated as a 'quiet lane', calling it so was 'defying reality'.

He added: "Traffic in Gulpher Road is a rat run and will become even more of a rat run to get to secondary school.

"I cannot see many parents going all the way through the town, with various roundabouts and traffic lights, when Gulpher gives them a continuous link right to the front door of the school."

Addressing this, the planning officer said the traffic assessment was overestimating the amount of traffic the plans would eventually generate.

This was because although the plans were for up to 150 homes and councillors were deciding based on that number, they were more likely to generate only between 50 and 75 new houses, with a 33 per cent affordable housing requirement.

Concerns were also raised about its relationship to the adjacent Laureate Fields site, where 196 new homes by the same developer were approved in 2016.

On this, planning officers stated the new application would be a 'much greener development with more breathing spaces'.

Addressing members, the group development director for the applicant, Edward Orr, promised the company would pay a great deal of attention to how the new homes fit into Felixstowe.

He added: "We're not a volume house builder but undertake a limited number of projects per year, with each site critical to the success and reputation of our business.

"Our aim is to deliver schemes which foster a strong sense of community and homes that stand apart in terms of design and quality from that delivered by the larger developers.

"We are very keen to work with local authorities and local communities to design schemes we think are reflective of the settings in which they are going to be built."

When prompted, Mr Orr also guaranteed no homes would be over two storeys.

The officer's report concluded the development would be acceptable subject to conditions and cited several benefits of the scheme — these included the creation of jobs in the construction industry and the long-term benefit to facilities and services in Felixstowe from new resident spending.

Alongside the proposals are agreements for statutory development contributions totalling just over £2.75 million, which could be used to boost community infrastructure and schools.

After some debate, the application was given the green light with four votes in favour, two against and two abstentions.

The applicant must now come back to the council with a reserved matters bid, where appearance, landscaping, layout and scale details will be decided.