Early plans to add 230 homes on the end of a cul-de-sac in Newent have been approved.

Developer Robert Hitchins wants to build 230 homes on a field off Southend Lane. But the narrow Southend Lane won’t be able to take the extra traffic so the developers want to divert vehicles along Foley Road, on the other side of the field.

The principle of the application was voted through at a recent Forest of Dean District Council’s planning committee meeting.

However, Newent Town Council are angered by the fact the proposals include plans to build 230 homes when the field was earmarked by council planners for 170.

Assistant clerk of the town council Dierdre Morley said in a letter the authority believes the 230 homes is “inappropriate and excessive”.

There have been a total 38 complainants who are against the new estate. Many said the extra cars leading to the site will create heavy traffic and will risk the safety of children living in the residential area.

Specialists called in by the developers to review the impact of the large estate on the local highway network have concluded that the 230 extra homes would not cause problems.

According to a council report, the developer believes there would be 124 and 111 vehicle trips during the am and pm peak hours.