UP to 25 new homes will be built on a farm site in Wiveliscombe after councillors decided that an ‘overwhelming need’ for more rural housing outweighed concerns about flooding and traffic congestion.

A planning application by Summerfield Developments for the site in Greenway Farm, North Street, was approved on Tuesday (February 24) despite being outside Wiveliscombe’s development boundary.

Cllr Dave Mansell, who represents Wiveliscombe on Somerset Council, was concerned the scheme could impact people living along North Street who did not have anywhere to park their vehicles.

He said there were also problems with the ageing drainage system and water coming down off the hills often caused floods.

The council’s planning committee voted seven to four to approve the new houses, seven of which will be ‘affordable’ homes.