Another 48 new homes will be built in a market town after councillors approved an application for development on a greenfield site.

Approval was granted for the proposed development off Greenfields Road in Dereham, despite concerns about the capacity of the area's sewerage systems.

The development, which sits close to employment sites and the A47, was recommended for approval by council officers and permission was unanimously granted by Breckland district councillors at a planning committee meeting on Monday.

A letter of objection from ward councillor Alison Webb, which was read out at the meeting, raised concerns about the sewerage problems and a lack of 'clear strategy' from Anglian Water, and about Norwich Road becoming 'more and more congested'.

She added: 'I am not against development as long as suitable infrastructure is in place.'

The application was submitted by landowner Robin Green, who said his original application for a development of 56 homes have been 'revised down'.

He added: 'There has been a situation with Anglian Water since we submitted our first application in 1986 so something needs to be sorted out there.'

Simon Ward of Capita, which manages the council's planning services suggested a 'Grampian condition' be put in place on the application, which would prevent development starting until changes to the sewerage system had been completed.

Paul Claussen said the issues surrounding sewerage were an example of 'where planning is failing'.

'This is a site that needs to be developed but at the moment it is almost shackled because of everything that is not going on. Someone somewhere needs to make it happen.'

Mr Ward added that the site's status as greenfield land would 'ordinarily be an issue', but as it lies inside Dereham's settlement boundary the 'principle of development' could be accepted.