The battle for permission to build homes on one of the most notorious vacant brownfield sites in the Norwich area has been reignited.

Fresh plans have been submitted for Pinebanks, the former Norwich Union sports ground in Thorpe St Andrew, which has now been left unused for over five years.

Fears about the future of the site have been allayed by the re-emergence of fresh plans, submitted by development managers Ocubis on behalf of Jersey-based owners of the site Berliet, after plans were rejected by Broadland District Council in February of this year.

On that occasion there were passionate speakers both for and against the proposals for 215 homes on Pinebanks, alongside 54 on the nearby Griffin Lane site.

Council officers had advised the Broadland planning committee to approve the proposals - which also included a 'sports hub' which included a skate park and cricket training facilities, and bringing redundant football pitches back into use.

But councillors voted against the proposals, with most unhappy that Broadland's affordable housing minimum for sites of 33pc was not being met, at under 25pc, and that an estate of only affordable housing was being created on the Griffin Lane site.

They also voted to refuse an application to demolish the vacant buildings on the Pinebanks site.

Now fresh hope for the development has arrived though, after revised plans were submitted, which include the retention of the oldest parts of Pinebanks house and 30pc affordable homes across both sites.

The revised proposals for a total of 302 homes include:

- 231 new homes at Pinebanks comprising 211 for private sale, 14 homes available to private buyers at 75% of market value and six available as affordable rent tenure

- 71 new homes at Griffin Lane comprising 34 units available to private buyers at 75% of market value and a further 37 available via the affordable rent tenure

Stuart Adolph, development manager for Ocubis, said: 'We have listened to what members said back in February and responded with a revised proposal that provides more affordable homes for Broadland across both our linked sites.'

- For the full story, and reaction to the plans being re-submitted, see today's Eastern Daily Press and Norwich Evening News.