A derelict eyesore in a Somerset village is set to be transformed with 18 new homes – but none will be affordable.

Councillors unanimously backed Freemantle Developments' proposals for The Wharf in Greensbrook after hearing Clutton wants and fully supports the application.

Plans to redevelop the constrained former railway yard and make five out of 15 homes affordable were approved in 2015.

But Freemantle has since incurred substantial costs in undertaking intrusive ground-work investigations and reassessed the viability.

It said in its updated plans: "Regrettably, due to high abnormal costs associated with land stability and contamination, high build costs and low sales values in Clutton, the only viable option is one that does not include any affordable housing."

Parish councillor Rosemary Naish sympathised with the position and said the heavily contaminated site has been a derelict eyesore for more than a decade and will be expensive to develop.

She told Bath and North East Somerset Council planning committee members on December 15: "Developers have come forward with a good plan that includes one and two-bedroom houses, which are much needed as starter homes or for older residents to downsize to without having to leave the village, their families and their support networks, which no previous developer has been able to provide."

Members were told the viability issues meant it was acceptable to move away from the policy that 30 per cent of the new homes should be affordable – and the scheme will only just be viable with 100 per cent market housing.

Ms Naish added: "A previous fully approved plan was abandoned because of the cost of providing social and affordable housing. Please don't let this happen again.

"Clutton wants and fully supports this application."

Proposing to permit the application, Councillor Sally Davis said: "This clearly gives exactly what the parish wants – smaller dwellings, they're doing things the parish want so they can walk to the play area. It's quite lethal because there is no pavement.

"It's unusual not to ask for 30 per cent but the parish council know the site and can see what the problems are."