More homes have been approved for a Costessey housing estate, which was issued with an enforcement notice after developers failed to meet a deadline for building community facilities.

South Norfolk Council's development management committee agreed to Taylor Wimpey's application to build 142 homes in Poethkyn Drive at Queen's Hills, despite concerns raised by councillors that a nearby water pumping station and pipework would be unable to cope with the extra water and there was insufficient data to support claims of a reduction in vehicle movements.

Councillor Tim East, who represents Costessey, told yesterday's committee meeting the pumping station had failed in July and water had leaked from 'dog leg' pipework at the bottom of Sir Alfred Munnings Road and into the River Tud, which runs to the south of the estate.

He questioned why an appraisal of Norfolk County Council's travel plan for the estate did not need any baseline data to support claims the plan would lead to a 7.6pc reduction in vehicle movements.

He also raised concerns about parking, saying the roads were too narrow to provide parking for the development.

However, a representative of the county council's highways department said the 7.6pc figure was based on previous applications and the effect of advice in the travel plan, encouraging people to give up their cars or use park and ride schemes. Mark Hyde, representing Taylor Wimpey, said work was being carried out to improve the pumps and added the design met the silver building for life standard in the Norwich Joint Core Strategy, which is the strategic development plan for Norwich. The development has been at the centre of controversy after Cofton, the developer's consortium, missed numerous deadlines for the start of work on vital community amenities.

A further application by Bovis Homes to build 115 homes at Queens Hills was deferred because of concerns over the volume and design of three-storey homes.