A former orchard in Portishead is set to become home to new housing after a developer’s scheme was given the go-ahead, despite more than 70 objections being lodged against it.

At a meeting of North Somerset Council’s planning and regulatory committee on June 10, the outline proposal for the development of Battens Orchard off Elm Walk was approved by a majority of councillors.

The plan, submitted by Freemantle Developments, is for 10 homes on the site, which a number of residents consider valuable recreational land.

The planning application was submitted to the council in November and originally proposed building 19 homes but this was scaled down after numerous objections were lodged by people concerned about the amount of traffic it would generate, its visual impact and also the effect it would have on wildlife. As a result, the revised application that went before councillors was for 10 homes.

Because Freemantle Developments applied for outline application, more details will have to be submitted to the council before any work can start.

At the meeting during which councillor opinion was divided, Cllr David Jolley said: “It is over-development of the site.

“I am aware of Government pressures in approving this type of application and I just ask that if it is approved, there are stringent conditions attached.”

Cllr David Shopland said: “It will be a tragedy to develop this. It will completely destroy the character of this lane which Portishead has fought to keep.”