Plans to slash the number of affordable homes from a village scheme have been approved, with the cost of offsetting harmful nutrients entering Norfolk's waterways blamed.

South Norfolk Council (SNC) has signed off on a bid to cut the number of such houses that will have to be provided in a 31-property development off Alan Avenue in Newton Flotman.

The developer, FW Properties, originally said seven properties would be offered at a lower rent or for shared ownership. This has now been cut to four.

FW Properties has insisted this is necessary because the original scheme was no longer viable due to additional costs.  

Part of the blame has been placed on the need to purchase ‘mitigation credits’ to offset the impact of excess nutrients coming from the new homes and harming Norfolk’s waterways. 

This follows new rules being introduced early last year to prevent nitrogen and phosphorus from wastewater entering rivers and harming the environment.

The credits only recently became available and can be purchased from a company jointly owned by a group of Norfolk councils and Anglian Water.

SNC’s development committee unanimously approved the change at a meeting on Wednesday.