DEVELOPER Strongvox Homes has narrowly won its fight to increase the number of properties on a new housing development on the outskirts of Minehead.

The company won the go-ahead to build 29 houses and eight apartments on land at Ellicombe Meadow in late 2013.

But an attempt to replace four detached houses with eight semi-detached units and increase the number of affordable apartments to nine was turned down by West Somerset Council's planning committee in January this year.

Councillors felt the height of the three-storey homes – two metres higher than the previously approved detached homes – would have a detrimental impact on views to and from the Exmoor National Park.

However, an amended scheme in which the height of the buildings was reduced by one metre, and with one additional apartment, was approved by seven votes to six at a meeting of the committee last Thursday.

Area planning manager Bryn Kitching told councillors that Strongvox had lodged an appeal against the refusal of the amendment considered in January while at the same time submitting the current application.

He said in terms of design, the increase in the number of homes and the increase in height would not have any significant adverse impact on the residential amenity of existing properties through overlooking or loss of light.

Although the additional five homes were expected to result in 40 additional vehicle movements a day, highways chiefs had concluded this was unlikely to be significant enough to warrant an objection on traffic impact grounds.

And Mr Kitching said the flood risk and impact on ecology would also be little changed.

"Officers previously recommended approval for the scheme that was refused and it is their professional opinion that the current scheme is also acceptable in terms of its visual impact," he said.

However, the Exmoor National Park Authority raised concerns about the proposal, in particular about whether the hedgerow alongside Combeland Lane – considered the most appropriate means of conserving the character of the area – would adequately screen the rooftops of the higher homes.

The authority also said that properties with higher rooflines were likely to weaken Ellicombe's 'settlement edge' character.

The scheme also prompted concern from Minehead Town Council, which said it was unhappy about the change in the density of the properties.

Dunster Parish Council, meanwhile, called for the semi-detached homes to be two, rather than three-storey.

The application resulted in five letters of objection, raising concerns ranging from the increase in traffic to the three-storey element of the homes.

But Minehead resident Christine Lorimer told the meeting that local people appeared not to have been informed that the application was being considered by the committee.

She said she had only found out by chance because she wanted to show her support for the application for a new Lidl store, which was determined at the same meeting.

"I object very strongly," said Mrs Lorimer.

"These houses will be seen from Combeland Road and from Exmoor.

"Walking up the bridleway the roofs will be visible and the view down to the sea will definitely be changed."

But Cllr Keith Turner said he welcomed the efforts that Strongvox had made to mitigate the visual impact that had concerned councillors previously.

"I see that the Exmoor National Park Authority is still commenting on the impact," he said.

"But under our Local Plan we have to build 2,900 houses over the next 20 years in West Somerset and the national park has asked us to take its element of affordable housing and build it – so I think it's a bit rich of the authority to complain."

Other councillors raised concerns about the hedgerow along Combeland Road and its future maintenance.

But they were assured by Mr Kitching that it was protected by conditions imposed with the original planning permission to ensure its maintenance and retention.

Cllr Andrew Hadley said he appreciated the efforts made by the developer to reduce the height of the homes but he was concerned about the impact the three-storey design would have on the area.

And Cllr Rosemary Woods said she considered additional homes were being put on a site that was already over-developed.