Up to 169 houses will be built on the former Eastfield Nursery site in Whittlesey and more than £35,000 ploughed into Lattersey Nature Reserve.

The five acres of land in Eastrea Road, which has sat empty since the demolition of the nursery in 2014, will see a mixture of detached, semi-detached and terrace houses built on it along with play areas for children.

Developers also agreed to contribute £35,580 to the help with the management of the nearby beauty spot for the next 15 years under a section 106 agreement.

It comes as planners approved outline planning permission at a Fenland Council committee meeting yesterday (June 20), despite a previous objection from Lattersey Nature Reserve.

However, concerns were raised by councillors about the size of the development, increase in traffic and pedestrian access.

“The size of the development was mentioned at an initial town council meeting in October 2016 but it does not seem to have been taken on board,” said Councillor Dee Laws, who also serves on Whittlesey Town Council.

Struan Power, strategic land and planning manager from Taylor Wimpey, said: “This application will deliver new homes in a key market town.

“We provide a range of homes for families to bring up their children in a safe environment with children’s play space and quality housing.

“This is just an outline plan at present, so it may be that the houses are reduced, but we want to make best use of the land available.

“It has been good to work alongside the council with these plans as all matters have been dealt with efficiently.”

Access to the site will be provided off the A605 and the existing roundabout which serves the Larkfleet development via Dandelion Road.

Around 42 of the houses built on the site will also fall into the affordable housing category.

Planning documents stated: “In 1821 the site was initially farmland.

“A building was developed in 1970-73 in the north-west corner of the site, and in 1979-1992 the nursery was established.

“The site is predominantly flat although a raised mound near the southern boundary, and a pond/stream to the south east with willow trees abutting the site.”