Brantham villagers have been left 'disappointed' after developers overturned a Babergh decision at appeal and can now build up to 65 homes.

Babergh planning committee initially rejected the scheme arguing the development would merge the East End of East Bergholt with Brantham among other factors, but the applicants appealed through legal counsel and a planning inspector representing the Secretary of State allowed their appeal.

The decision read: "Permission is granted for residential development of up to 65 new dwellings (including a minimum of 35% affordable homes), with areas of landscaping and public open space, including vehicular access and associated infrastructure works at Land South of Slough Road, Brantham."

David Reed heard evidence over two days in November last year, then visited the site at the beginning of December, before delivering his conclusion in an 18 page report on Monday.

Alastair McCraw, Brantham parish council's chairman, and a Babergh district councillor vowed to ensure the village would gain as much community benefit as possible following the ruling.

"I'm incredibly disappointed at the Inspectors decision," said Cllr McCraw. "The committee decision in April 2019 to refuse permission was robustly defended by parish, myself and Babergh.

"Over a full two days of the hearing in November 2020, all the arguments were considered fairly. In the 18 pages of the decision, the Inspector has ruled that the need under National Policy to build more housing outweighs the local landscape and coalescence concerns.

"He makes suggestions to mitigate some of these concerns. The appeal is allowed for UP TO 65 dwellings, and it is suggested that mitigation might need that number reduced.

"This is for outline permission only. Any reserved matters application will have to take this decision into full account and we will be looking for as much community benefit as possible. Once again though, a bad National Policy framework has been the deciding factor."

Mr Reed concluded the local need for the level of market and affordable housing proposed has been justified in addition to the other planned development in the village to address past under provision of housing, reverse population decline, rebalance the ageing population, provide more affordable housing which is in particularly short supply and better match the substantial employment growth which is planned for the village.

He added: "In respect of the second main issue, the sense of separation between Brantham and East End would be slightly reduced resulting in some marginal harm to the settlement pattern and landscape character of the Plateau Farmlands.

"Overall the proposal complies with the development plan taken as a whole and, insofar as there is any conflict, material considerations in favour are sufficient to warrant permission. The social and economic benefits of providing further market and affordable housing in the specific circumstances of Brantham outweigh the limited environmental harm that would arise in this case.

"Having regard to the above the planning balance is firmly in favour of the scheme and the appeal should therefore be allowed."