The first stage of a controversial planning application in Felixstowe has been approved.

East Suffolk's planning committee gave the green light for 255 homes to be built off Candlet Road, as part of the Felixstowe Garden Development which will eventually see 2,000 new houses built, along with a community centre and a primary school.

Two Felixstowe councillors, Mike Deacon and Stuart Bird, spoke against the reserved matters application heard via Zoom today but lost the vote five votes to two, with one abstention.

The scheme, put forward by Persimmons homes, is part of larger development which was initially refused by the district council, but passed on appeal by a planning inspector in 2017.

Cllr Deacon aired his concerns that the land outside the built up area boundary leading into the countryside would be lost and residents would 'never see hares boxing in the fields again'.

Fellow resort councillor Stuart Bird told of his doubts about the open spaces provisions and asked the planning officer and developer ensured the play equipment promised would be six pieces for each age group and not just the one lot of six shown on the plans.

No objectors spoke at meeting, although planning committee member Cllr Deacon reiterated Felixstowe Town Council's objections.

These included concerns over foul water drainage in an area already experiencing problems, highways issues, allotment parking, a reduction in affordable housing, inadequate play provision, and disappointing housing design.

East Suffolk planning officer Phil Perkin said the holding objection by Anglian Water had been satisfied by and no existing water course would be affected.

Stuart McAdam, the agent for Persimmon Homes, pointed out that each home would have an electric car car charging provision and a water butt and there would be cycle routes and footpaths linking the development with the wider area as part of the application's green provision.

He confirmed the plan was to start the house building in the spring, with this phase being completed by the end of 2021.

Persimmon Homes has outline consent for 560 properties plus a 60-bedroom extra care home and 50 assisted living units, two small business units and open space and play areas on the land off Gulpher Road following a decision by a planning inspector.

East Suffolk Council has been talks with various landowners, including Persimmon and Trinity College, Cambridge, to put together the 353-acre North Felixstowe Garden Neighbourhood (NFGN) with the aim to start building in two years.

The project will create 2,000 homes and a new £20million leisure centre on a site stretching from The Grove woodland to the dock spur roundabout.

Planning officers say the estate design is considered an improvement on the previously submitted masterplan - particularly in the siting of open space.

Outline planning permission for up to 560 dwellings was granted in 2017 through an appeal which was eventually allowed by the Secretary of State. This application for Reserved Matters approval is for Phase 1 of the outline consent, comprising 255 dwellings (including 85 affordable dwellings).

The site forms part of the North Felixstowe Garden Neighbourhood under Policy SCLP12.3 of the East Suffolk Council Suffolk Coastal Local Plan (September 2020) which allocates approximately 143ha of land for a comprehensive leisure led development and employment land alongside residential development for up to 2000 dwellings (including the 560 with outline planning permission).

The principle of residential development on the site is therefore established but reserved matters at each phase have to be approved.