Keynsham housing development approved after appeal

A plan to build 285 new homes on greenbelt land near Bristol has been approved after an appeal.

Planning officers had originally recommended that Bath and North East Somerset Council approve building firm Taylor Wimpey's scheme in Keynsham.

But the council rejected it amid protests by local people who said the site's access road was "inadequate".

Keynsham councillor Alan Hale said the decision to allow the development was "desperately bad news".

It was approved by a planning inspector following a public inquiry in June.

Mr Hale said: "So many people have worked so hard to fight this development and it brought the surrounding community together in opposition.

"Despite the best efforts of everyone, myself included, the democratic process (has) found against us."

At the time of the appeal, Taylor Wimpey said: "This [development] would see investment in Keynsham, assist the local economy by providing much-needed affordable housing for local families, employment opportunities and the wider community benefits highlighted."