A Bridgwater housing development will be completed despite one of the developers pulling out.

Sedgemoor District Council granted permission in 2014 to build 186 homes on land south of Haygrove Road, in the west of the town.

The site was being jointly developed by David Wilson Homes and Notaro Homes, but the former has now withdrawn from the site.

The council’s development committee voted on Tuesday morning (March 3) to allow Notaro to build out the rest of the site – despite concerns about traffic and the overall legality of the scheme.

Notaro is already constructing phase one of the development, comprising 81 homes at the eastern end of the site.

The western end of what has been christened Durleigh Gardens will provide a further 105 houses – bringing the total up to 186.

While the number of houses will not change, the number of bedrooms will be reduced from 346 to 333 due to different housing designs being approved.

A “green corridor”, intended to run through the middle of the site, will still be incorporated into the development, with further planting being undertaken at its southern edge.

Local resident Ann Heritage accused the council of “getting away with it”, claiming a ruling by planning inspectors back in 1993 meant development should not be permitted.

She said: “In 1993 the Planning Inspectorate said the land south of Durleigh Road should be ‘an area of restraint’.

“This is an illegal build and there could be corporate liability for people who vote it. If it’s approved, you’ll be getting away with it.”

Stuart Houlet, the council’s senior manager for development management, said the development was legal and it was safe for councillors to approve the amended plans.

He said: “This site was identified within the core strategy. It came forward in advance of this, and the 1993 decision has been superseded by the core strategy. There has been no challenge made through a judicial review.”

Councillor Alan Bradford welcomed the plans, but said the landscaping and other environmental issues the site posed should be taken seriously.

He said: “The environment issues have changed since this was first granted. It’s an important part of the countryside, which runs down to streams, and we’ve got to make sure this is done properly.”

Councillor Alex Glassford added: “With all the other things which we’ve passed a long time ago, I cannot see any reason to not support this.”

The committee voted to approve the plans by a margin of 11 votes to zero, with three abstentions.

Following the decision, Councillor Gill Slocombe – whose Bridgwater Wyndham ward includes the site – said she would be monitoring the traffic levels as the development grew.

She said: “Both Councillor Rachael Lilley and I put forward our comments in light to the concerns raised by residents regarding the traffic congestion already happening in the area.

“As it is, Somerset County Highways feel that there is not a problem.

“We are disappointed but will monitor the situation as more houses are built, as Haygrove Road is a small road and it there is no doubt it is going to be difficult going on onto Durleigh Road.”