Plans have been lodged to build 70 new homes on the edge of a Suffolk town.

If given the go-ahead by West Suffolk Council the new homes will be built in land off Cavendish Road in Clare.

Rainier Developments is proposing the new homes opposite the Denbury Homes 53-home Weavers Way site. 

Of the 70 homes, it is expected that at least 28 of them will be affordable housing. 

The development, which is close to Stour Valley Community School, would also include a 30-space car park. 

The plans are described as "sensitively designed to respect and integrate with Clare and the surrounding area". 

According to the planning application, a new community orchard would be built which would "encourage local food growing and an opportunity to foster social interaction between new and existing members of the community".

During a consultation which was held earlier this year developers said they received a "mix of responses" from the public in relation to the proposed scheme. 

They said: "There were a number of concerns expressed regarding the ability of local infrastructure to support additional development in Clare.

"Issues cited including those relating to public transport, highways, doctors, pharmacy, schools, play areas and shopping facilities.

"Concerns were expressed that parking along Cavendish Road, together with HGV traffic into the village, were already causing congestion and development of the Site would worsen this."

However, they were also a number of responses that said there is a need for additional homes in the area and provision of affordable homes in particular. 

Rainier Developments, based in Henley-in-Arden, has a combined in-house experience of more than 150 years.