A Suffolk town council has launched a second legal challenge over controversial plans for 35 homes that were approved despite concerns about a loss of green space and road changes. 

Framlingham Town Council is opposing East Suffolk Council’s decision to grant Leaper Land Promotion’s plans for the homes in Victoria Mill Road. 

Simon Garrett, the council’s chair of planning, said he found it "difficult to understand" how the application could be approved, even though it was similar to previous plans that had been rejected because of concerns about the impact on an Asset of Community Value (ACV). 

ACV status is awarded by councils to land or buildings that further the social wellbeing or interests of the local community. 

Mr Garrett said: “The town council listened to its residents the last time this development was proposed and it was glad that its legal efforts helped it being turned down.  

“Despite the small reduction in the number of houses the town council has voted to oppose the second application as it is virtually identical to the first and the concerns raised by the residents remain.  

“I find it difficult to understand how the district council can refuse an application because of the loss of the Asset of Community Value then approve a very similar application with the same issue less than six months later.  

“The town council hopes that this second legal challenge will also lead to the district changing its mind.” 

The development still involves the loss of 57 square metres of grass verge designated as an ACV. 

This loss will be caused by the straightening and widening of Victoria Mill Road - safety work which must be done before any housing can be started. 

Originally, Leaper Land had planned to build 49 homes, but had reduced the size of the development because it did not accord with the Framlingham Neighbourhood Plan, which allocated "approximately 30 dwellings" in Victoria Mill Road. 

East Suffolk Council approved the plans last month by the casting vote of the planning committee chairman after being satisfied with the revised number of homes, deciding that the benefits of the scheme would outweigh the losses and the new development would create ample replacement play space.