Councillors have approved a plan for seven new homes to help meet social housing needs near Fakenham, despite objections from neighbouring villagers.

Plans were submitted to build five two-storey houses and two flats on Dereham Road in Hempton for the Flagship Housing Group.

North Norfolk District Council's development control committee originally discussed the proposals on June 10, but deferred a decision to allow for further design negotiations to take place.

At that meeting, ward councillor Dawn Wakefield objected to the application on several grounds, including that the designs were not in keeping with the 18th-century buildings opposite and the poor accident record at the junction.

She also said the land was already extremely water-logged and raised concerns that the existing drainage system may be unable to cope with sewage from the development.

But amended designs and further responses from the Environment Agency (EA) convinced councillors to approve the plan, subject to conditions.

A report to the committee said: 'No objections have been received from the EA in relation to soakaways and contamination, and no objections have been received from the conservation, design and landscape manager or the housing enabling officer regarding the amended plans.

'It is therefore considered that the issue of design has been addressed and that the EA, subject to conditions, is satisfied with the information that has been submitted.

'The building control manager has confirmed that the 'waterlogged' nature of the site is not an insurmountable problem and would not prevent the construction of the proposed dwellings on the site.'

The report said there was a clear need for more social housing in the area, with 44 households on the housing register from Hempton and the adjoining parishes of Sculthorpe, Dunton and Pudding Norton.