PLANS to build 21 flats and houses on the site of a former car dealership and vehicle repair centre in Williton have been approved - but just two of the homes will be affordable.

Summerfield Developments (SW) Ltd had cited the cost of developing the contaminated land in High Street as the reason for the low number.

West Somerset Council's planning committee deferred a decision last month to see if there was sufficient justification for the figure, having asked the developers to provide further evidence of their costs.

But at its meeting last Thursday the committee accepted Summerfield's argument.

A development of the size now approved would normally result in between five and seven affordable homes being provided.

However, the council's housing enabling officer said the lower number was acceptable as long as the committee was satisfied that an additional requirement would make the scheme unviable.

The development will include five two-bedroom flats, 11 two-bedroom terraced houses and five three-bedroom houses.

Two new vehicular accesses will be built onto the A358 road, replacing the existing access.

Planning officer Lisa Buller said Williton Parish Council had suggested pedestrian access to the site should be via a bridge across the stream behind one of the properties leading to Robert Street because of safety concerns about the main road.

But Ms Buller said, although this had been considered, a development could not be required to resolve pre-existing problems and the request was deemed to be unreasonable.

Two residents also raised objections, highlighting that the site was on a designated flood plain, that the development would increase traffic hazards and that it would raise privacy, noise and possible social issues.

Summerfield had previously withdrawn the application to deal with flooding concerns and councillors were told that the Environment Agency had dropped its initial objection to the scheme.

In addition to the affordable housing, Summerfield has also agreed to make a contribution towards community recreational facilities.