A DEVELOPMENT of 67 new homes in Frating has been approved, despite objections from villagers.

Sanctuary Housing has been given the green light to build the houses on farmland land north of Tokely Road.

Plans for 49 homes on the seven-acre site were previously granted by a Government inspector, but developers applied to increase the density of housing.

Tendring Council said it received 19 letters of objection to the plans and just one letter of support for the new proposal.

Frating Parish Council said: “We are still of the opinion that the request for 67 units is even less sustainable and is an overdevelopment of the site.

“The facilities in Frating are very limited within the parish.

“There is a bus service that runs between Colchester and Clacton, but the majority of journeys will be by private vehicles.

“One of the greatest concerns to the parish council and residents of the existing estate is the number of vehicles that will be using Tokely Road to access the new development.

“The concern is mainly on safety grounds for pedestrians, which are mainly children, and for car users as there is a very sharp bend in the road.”

One objector said she was concerned about the development due to the lack of infrastructure in the rural village.

She said: “Frating is not for housing developments as there is no infrastructure here.

“We have no schools, doctor’s surgery nor shops. The nearest corner shop is three miles away.”

A report by the developer said the scheme would provide “attractive traditional buildings with a contemporary edge”.

The plans were approved by Tendring Council’s planning committee on Tuesday night.

Chairman John White said: “There was quite a bit of local opposition to it, but the plans were approved.

“The site was not allocated for housing in the council’s 2007 Local Plan, but it is in the new Local Plan, so the development was deemed acceptable.”