A decision over one of Norwich's biggest housing developments has been put on hold - because councillors insisted they need to visit the site first.
An application by Persimmon to vary the conditions agreed for its 1,000-home development at the former Royal Norwich Golf Club in Hellesdon was due to be decided by Broadland District Council's planning committee on Wednesday (October 13).
The application to vary conditions, agreed when permission was granted in 2016, has sparked opposition. This is because it would mean some 150 affordable homes would not be built, while more trees would be chopped down than originally anticipated.
Last month committee members voted to visit the site, off Drayton High Road, before making a decision.
But officers subsequently cancelled the visit, citing health and safety reasons.
They instead produced a video of the site, which was shown to councillors at Wednesday morning's planning meeting,
However, irritated committee members said the video was no substitute for seeing the site in person and that they still wanted to visit it before making a decision.
Ken Leggett, Conservative councillor for Old Catton and Sprowston West, said: "We did unitedly agree we wanted to go on a site visit. I do feel I need to go and see there."
Conservative Stuart Clancy, who represents Taverham South, proposed deferral so the visit could happen.
He said: "I genuinely feel the video does not do justice to the decision we are making and I think we would still benefit from a site visit. I think there would be a lot to be gained from it.
"I think it would be hugely beneficial to be able to traverse the site and see it in the round."
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Planning officer Ben Burgess said he had warned councillors that a site visit would carry an expense to the council, with a need for personal protective equipment.
He said other interested parties would also have to be invited to take part, so the cost would extend beyond providing suitable kit for the councillors.
But councillors still voted by six to two for the site visit.
A date for that will now need to be arranged. Following the visit the planning committee will make a decision over the variation of conditions.
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