The number of affordable properties in a proposed 380-home scheme in Sprowston has been cut to just 10pc.

United Businesses and Leisure Limited is seeking permission to build on two fields between Salhouse Road in Sprowston and Plumstead Road East.

Broadland District Council's planning committee deferred the application in November last year following concerns about a link road through the site.

Back then the developer was proposing to make 17.5pc of the properties affordable as part of the scheme.

That figure has now been cut to 10pc, despite a policy in the Joint Core Strategy stating 33pc of new homes should be made affordable.

The report said: 'At the November meeting, members concluded that, following a review of the viability and supporting evidence, the case had been made to justify a reduction in the affordable housing obligation to 17.5pc.

'Since the November meeting the applicant has revisited the viability of the scheme and has provided an updated viability assessment.'

The report said the assessment showed the development was only viable if 38 homes were affordable.

Council officers recommended the scheme for approval, adding: 'It is important for members to note that there has been a reduction in the percentage and tenure split of affordable housing to 10pc.

'As discussed, the viability of this scheme has been carefully assessed independently and the figure is considered to be acceptable.'

In November committee members deferred the proposals due to a lack of clarity regarding the completion of a link road through the site.

The route, which will eventually form part of a larger link road, is meant to go from Salhouse Road to the boundary of an adjoining council-owned site.

However, the developer's plans at the time showed the road ending 50m before connecting to council land.

The report said the applicant had since agreed to show that a road would be taken directly up to the local authority's boundary.

Wording within the Section 106 agreement would also secure the route, the report added.

The application will go before Broadland's planning committee on Wednesday, March 28.