Hundreds of homes will be built in Nailsea after a Government planning inspector gave the green light to a controversial development in Youngwood Lane.

Nailsea Town Council is 'disappointed' with the officer's decision to approve 450 homes on the green fields, which separate the town from Backwell.

The authority is concerned it will lead to piecemeal development of the site and a lack of infrastructure.

A council spokesman said: "While Nailsea Town Council has in the past been against any development in this area it had recognised that part of the land had been included within North Somerset Council's strategy for new housing up to 2026.

"The inspector's approval of 450 new homes is leading to piecemeal development of the land around Nailsea rather than planned development through the Local Plan which would include for the proper infrastructure to be in place in advance of major development.

"Going forward, Nailsea Town Council will endeavour to engage with all developers to ensure that the council's housing mix policy is adhered to and that detailed plans allow for a future feeder road around the town as noted by the inspector."

Mactaggart and Mickel Homes applied for permission to build 450 homes to the north of Youngwood Lane and east of Netherton Wood Lane in July 2016.

North Somerset Council failed to make a decision in time, so the developer lodged an appeal.

The authority said it would have rejected the proposal as officers believed it would 'undermine the coordinated planning and expansion of Nailsea' through the Joint Spatial Plan (JSP).

Government inspectors have since told the authority the JSP must be rewritten and, as a result, planning inspector Dominic Young said the decision to reject the application was 'weak'.

He said council officers had been 'unable to identify what tangible harm would arise from the development'.

He added: "The undersupply of housing in North Somerset can only realistically be remedied by the release of at least some greenfield sites.

"There would be a comprehensive package of footway, cycleway improvements which would facilitate car-free trips to the town centre and local train station."