A housing developer wants to reduce the number of affordable homes it will build in a south Norfolk Village. 

Fresh plans for a 31-property development on 2.5 acres of farmland off Alan Avenue in Newton Flotman are set to go before South Norfolk Council planners next week. 

A previous application was approved for the site last year, which included seven affordable homes. 

But the developer, FW Properties, has resubmitted a revised application, arguing the scheme is no longer viable due to rising costs.

It argues this means more properties will have to be sold at a market rate. 

Eastern Daily Press: The field from Alan Avenue in Newton Flotman which could be built on if a 31-home plan is approved by South Norfolk Council (Image: Lucy Saxton)The field from Alan Avenue in Newton Flotman which could be built on if a 31-home plan is approved by South Norfolk Council (Image: Lucy Saxton) (Image: Lucy Saxton)

Blame for delays to the project has been placed on recent rules for preventing excess nutrients from new properties from entering Norfolk’s waterways and harming the environment. 

These ‘nutrient neutrality’ rules mean that the developer is required to purchase ‘mitigation credits’ - to offset the impact - which are only now becoming available. 

A report for an upcoming planning committee meeting said: “In the time taken for the credits to come to fruition, the costs associated with build costs and funding rates have risen and this has led the applicant to submit further information relating to viability which concludes with indicating that it is only possible to provide four affordable units on-site as opposed to the seven originally envisaged.” 

No other changes are planned from the previous scheme. 

SNC officials have recommended the plan for approval. 

The scheme is on land allocated for development by the district council and would see a variety of one to four-bedroom houses and bungalows built. 

Nutrient neutrality rules were introduced to ensure excess nitrogen and phosphorus did not make it into rivers and lakes. 

A government bid to scrap the rules was rejected in the House of Lords in September.