Construction of a 30 home development in Oulton is set to be approved by councillors, despite calls for residents to leave the space as a wildlife meadow.

The land, at Parkhill, Oulton, has been allocated for a new primary school three times since 1996.

A report, issued ahead of Waveney District Council's planning committee meeting today, lists a number of neighbour consultations, including calls to leave the site to become a wildlife resource, with the site home to rare and endangered southern marsh orchids and bee orchids, as well as highlighting the impact on local medical and educational facilities.

The report recommends councillors approve the proposal, subject to a legal agreement with Natural England mitigation within six months. If no deal is made, permission is to be refused due to the harm on the protected landscape.

It says: 'There was expression of concern that social housing can create localised 'problems', but this seems to be a criticism of anticipated tenant behaviour, and cannot carry material weight in planning consideration.

'It is a vacant site, rather than a publically accessible open space.

'The school is now unnecessary as the provision for 420 places within Woods Meadow is now being built. This will not be fully subscribed on day one, so there is capacity for the wider catchement.

'This land had been retained by the county council and is now released for development, which would not have happened if demand for school places remained unsatisfied.'