Hopes of a relief road to ease traffic congestion in Diss were dead in the water last night after district councillors gave the go-ahead to a 120 home development.

The unanimous approval of the plans on a greenfield site comes after Persimmon Homes won over the concerns of residents, town and South Norfolk Councillors,

The amended proposals for a 4.8ha (11 acres) area of land off Frenze Hall Lane received support after the national house builder improved the design and removed a controversial access road to a neighbouring estate.

However, the construction of the new housing will block off aspirations of opening up the top of the Vinces Road industrial area to alleviate gridlock at the A1066 Victoria Road junction

Tony Palmer, town and district councillor, told a South Norfolk Council planning committee: 'Diss has been badly served by planning decisions in the past, which has created the traffic problems on Victoria Road.'

'I can not continue to oppose this application, but hope that congestion will be improved by the provision of an extra lane [at the junction of Vinces Road and Victoria Road],' he said.

Previous proposals for the site on the outskirts of Diss were thrown out by district councillors last year because of poor design and the allocation of affordable housing all together next to the railway line.

James Nicholls, for Persimmon Homes, said the developer had worked hard to overcome the objections of town councillors, residents and the local MP. He added that the creation of a link road between Vinces Road and Frenze Hall Lane would harm the environment and quality of life of future residents on the new estate.

'This will create a high quality and sustainable development and will deliver much-needed private and affordable housing for the local and south Norfolk area,' he said.