Plans to build another 61 houses on the former Arla Dairies site in Smisby Road have been given the green light - despite repeated objections from Ashby de la Zouch Town Council.

The new homes will be built to the rear of the existing Potter's Grange development opposite Tournament Way.

North West Leicestershire District Council has given planning permission for the remainder of the estate to be built.

But the town council's planning committee have consistently objected to this scheme and councillors made their feelings known last June.

A letter to the district council says: "Ashby de la Zouch Town Council objects to this application due to overdevelopment of land/density of building.

"The application also doesn't demonstrate that the risk of pollution has been controlled.

"The Town Council also seeks clarification on the road connection between this site and the Money Hill Site.

"This is not shown on the plans but did form part of the outline plans for the Money Hill Master Plan.

"The Planning & Transportation Committee would be very grateful if you could advise on this matter."

These concerns were also raised in January, with the words 'still too many dwellings within the plot' included in that letter.

The town council also wanted to see the Money Hill link being built and raised that issue in December, when a letter to the district council said following a planning committee meeting: "The issue of the access route as per the original Money Hill master plan was also raised.

"The Planning Committee are very keen to see this implemented as this should take traffic away from Smisby Road onto the Ashby Bypass."

A district council officer's report confirms that this scheme will complete the development already built on the western side of Gilwiskaw Brook.

The report addresses the concerns of Ashby councillors and says: "As set out under Relevant Planning Policy, the site is within Limits to Development as defined in the adopted Local and Neighbourhood Plans;

"The site is also allocated for residential development under Local Plan Policy H3.

"On this basis, and given the site's location within Ashby de la Zouch (where a wide range of services and good accessibility to public transport are available), the principle of the development of the site for residential purposes would be supported.

"It is also noted that the site has the benefit of an implemented outline planning permission and approval for 153 dwellings.

"In terms of the density of development (and given the Town Council's concerns regarding the increased number of dwellings), it is noted that the gross density for the 153 dwelling scheme would have equated to 28.3 dwellings per hectare.

"In the event that five additional dwellings were to be provided, this would increase to 29.2 dwellings per hectare which, it is considered, would remain acceptable.

"It is noted that Local Plan Policy H3a refers to a total of about 2,050 dwellings being provided within the allocation area; to date, this site is the only section of the allocation to be subject to a planning application for residential development.

"The overall quantum of development would include for an additional five dwellings; in the consultant's view, the impact from the additional dwellings would not be significant.

"Planning permission has been granted for this proposal.

"The Local Planning Authority acted pro-actively through positive engagement with the applicant during the determination process which led to improvements to the scheme."