The scheme on the edge of the upmarket town of Holt on land north of Valley Lane has been fiercely opposed by more than 100 people.

But at a North Norfolk District Council meeting today (Thursday, February 19), it was approved as a large crowd from the town looked on.

Objectors complained the properties, which will include seven affordable homes, could harm wildlife living on the grassland, which is near Spout Hills nature reserve.

A map of where the homes could be built near Holt (Image: Google)

Neighbours also urged the district council to block it due to fears the development would “spoil their views” and block light coming in through their French doors.

One objector complained there had been 500 homes built in the town in just four years but there remained about a hundred homes still waiting to be sold.

However, while there was a huge backlash to the plans, the site has already been allocated for new housing as part of the council’s local plan - a key policy that dictates where new developments can take place.

It meant there would have to be strong reasons to refuse permission.

While neighbours opposed the scheme, none of the statutory bodies - like Norfolk County Council’s flooding and highway authorities - objected.

The proposed site plan in the latest revision. (Image: Bayfield Homes)

Jamieson Bird, managing director of Bayfield Homes, said his firm was local and he would not be building "mass production square blocks", insisting the properties would be high quality.

The scheme will also seek to boost biodiversity by buying land to expand the current nature reserve at Spout Hills.

Ultimately, councillors were widely supportive of the development.

Councillor Peter Fisher praised the designs and said if the scheme was refused, the town could end up with a development that was "a lot nastier".

The project was approved with nine votes for, two against and one abstention.

© Eastern Daily Press