A housing scheme on fields in Shepshed has been given the green light after councillors were warned the council was 'thrashed' during a recent planning appeal over a similar application.

The plans for 53 houses on land east of Iveshead Road by developer Rainier Development were debated at a Charnwood Borough Council planning committee meeting last week.

Although there was a late burst of letters of support for the scheme, there had been a handful of objections. Ward councillors and Shepshed Town Council had expressed concerns over drainage, a nearby 'black spot' traffic area, and the land being a part of Charnwood Forest – part of the National Forest – as well as forming an area of the 'geographically unique' Charley Heath and Pasture.

But planning officer Jim Worley warned councillors the proposals were similar to an application they had previously refused. That decision was subsequently overturned on appeal.

"We didn't just lose – we were thrashed," he said. "We're talking about the same kind of land, same kind of elevation, same kind of development, and I am very nervous."

Ward Councillor Robin Popley had earlier warned there would be an impact on drainage, which he said has caused problems in the area previously, and said of Leicestershire County Council's highways team: "Once again the highways authority appears to make little to no comment on what is widely considered to be a black spot traffic area."

Fellow ward councillor Myriam Roberts said: "We've got one National Forest, we've also got one Charnwood Forest. Shepshed has only got one Charley Heath and Pasture, and we're deciding today whether we've got to put 53 houses on it."

Tom Armfield, of planning consultancy Turley, who spoke on behalf of Rainier Development, said: "The proposals will deliver a number of significant benefits for Shepshed and the wider borough. We are aware of some of the concerns raised by the town council.

"All of the comments raised have been robustly considered and responded to through consultation with the statutory consultees. The highways authority has confirmed that, subject to conditions, there are no adverse impacts."

During the meeting, Couns Popley and Jane Lennie raised concerns about the group Just Build Homes, which encourages local people to support planning applications during the decision-making process. Coun Popley said 29 letters of support were added to the planning portal just two days before a previous committee meeting, at which the Iveshead Road application was supposed to be decided before it was deferred to last week. He said 24 of those letters were from people with an LE11 postcode, rather than the LE12 postcode which is used for addresses in the ward.

Taking on board Mr Worley's warning, Councillor Mark Lowe said: "I can totally understand if we refused it this evening and it went to an appeal we would lose." Committee members voted to approve the scheme, with 10 councillors voting in favour, one against and two abstentions.