Proposals to build 125 new homes on a King's Lynn site with a chequered planning history look likely to be approved.

Persimmon Homes wants to build on 2.81 hectares (6.9 acres) of land off Wootton Road, and already has outline permission for the development. But the initial detailed application was refused by West Norfolk Council last year, and a subsequent planning appeal was also rejected.

The new proposal, phase two of the site, has been altered by the developer with homes redesigned to ensure that communal areas and parking are overlooked - one criticism made of the orignal application.

A report due to go before West Norfolk council's development control board on January 10 says: 'The layout of the residential development provides a good level of natural surveillance for the area, the scheme is now therefore considered acceptable in terms of crime prevention issues.'

The rejected application had a lack of parking while the shape and location of the open spaces could have led to criminal or anti-social behaviour, according to the council.

But the new design has created spaces which are overlooked by residents in a bid to reduce the likelihood of criminal activity.

The development will include 35 affordable units with a total of 45 provided over the two phases of the project on land which used to house Dairy Crest and a depot for an electricity company. But objections have been received over the inclusion of two blocks of three-storey flats which, it is claimed, would dominate the site. There were also concerns about the amount of traffic using Wootton Road.

The Internal Drainage Board also had concerns about a proposed bridge over the Gaywood River and the maintaining of its required nine metre access strip, but Persimmon has revised its plan accordingly.

Despite the objections, the council's planning officer is recommending that members of the board approve the application with a list of conditions including: details of the two proposed play areas have the council's written approval and that planting schemes are carried out before the homes are all occupied.