NINE bungalows can be built near Ammanford despite opposition from residents.

Carmarthenshire County Council approved plans for the properties to be built on land opposite the Plough & Harrow Inn pub in Betws, Ammanford.

The application was submitted by Gwyr Developments Ltd for the 0.34-hectare site which is currently agricultural land and a car park. The new development will see 0.34 hectares of previously developed land used alongside 0.04 hectares of greenfield site according to the planning application.

The bungalows will be three-bedroom homes and will have integral garages, garden amenity space, boundary treatments and vehicular access.

The walls of the bungalows will be plinth walls made from Staffordshire blue concrete brick or similar Render panels to be finished in Weber MT024 Winter White. Feature stone panels will be Forticreate Shearstone mid grey or similar. The roofs will be made from Marley Edgemere interlocking concrete tile, in a smooth grey colour.

The development will also need a new or altered access and new public roads. There are also protected and priority species and important habitats on land near to the development.

Residents submitted objections to the plans, with concerns about the fact they were unaware of the proposals and concerns over the invasion of privacy and extra burden on public services that the development would bring.

The council approved the plans but gave 18 conditions which include the standard conditions of work needing to start within five years of the approval date and in line with the approved plans. Another condition is that a construction exclusion zone must be put in place to protect existing landscape elements not identified for specific removal.

There are also conditions relating to the creation and submission of schemes that must be put in place.

Another condition is the access road must be put in place before any vehicular use, this access must be left open at all times and a visibility splay must be put in place and all this must be done before the development is occupied.

There are also conditions relating to the surface water and further conditions for the access roads and paths. The final condition is that the construction can only be carried out between the hours of 7.30am and 6pm, Monday to Friday, and 8am to 2pm on Saturday, unless prior written permission is granted by the council.