PLANS for 50 new homes in Alderbury have been approved after originally being refused by Wiltshire Council last year.

On Friday, The Earl of Radnor's Longford Estates' redevelopment scheme for the village was approved, with plans agreed for up to 50 houses in land off Firs Road (22 per cent of which will be affordable housing).

Associated parking, a relocated guide hut, a new preschool building and an extension to the land of the primary school playing fields are also included in the plans.

The proposal was rejected in December 2017 by the Wiltshire Council but the decision was appealed by the developers earlier this year.

Now the scheme has been deemed a "sustainable development" by planning inspector Neil Pope, who said benefits include an increase in choice and supply of housing, improvements to school facilities and an increase in the number of people using amenities in the village.

Several concerns were raised during the planning appeal in November, including concerns over how the council could demonstrate a five-year supply of housing land.

And some residents, including Alderbury Parish Council chairman, Elaine Hartford, who attended the appeal, feared the development is not in line with the growth of the village and will cause more traffic, flooding and loss of amenity land and wildlife habitat.

But Mr Pope's decision highlighted that flooding and traffic will not be impacted by the proposal, and conditions have been enforced including tree protection, the expectation to safeguard surrounding living conditions and provide the next stages of planning to the council within the next two years.

The planning application number is 17/04001/OUT.