A controversial bid to build 285 homes in Dereham has been pulled from a Breckland planning committee meeting shortly after Mid Norfolk's MP George Freeman wrote to the council saying he is fed up with 'greedy development'.
The district council said the decision was made primarily because of a low percentage of affordable homes and a full viability appraisal has been requested to assess what level is appropriate.
The application from Orbit Homes was for 285 homes to be built close to Greenfields Road. It has been met with a large number of objections from the public.
One of the biggest concerns has been the lack of outdoor playing space which is not sufficient to be in accordance with local policy.
In a letter sent to Breckland Council on Thursday, July 20, Mr Freeman said he was backing the resident-driven campaign against to the application.
Mr Freeman wrote that he wished to highlight 'serious concerns' over the proposal and noted he had been contacted by a number of concerned constituents and elected local councillors.
He writes that he would like it to be formally on record that he echoes the concerns regarding outdoor playing space, calling it a key part of a long term plan for the town called Vision for Dereham. He also requested the council explains why developments are being allowed when they do not have sufficient facilities to support them.
'We are not short of space in Mid Norfolk and people are increasingly fed up with lazy and greedy development which puts profit before people. So am I,' he added.
A spokesperson for Breckland Council said: 'The applicant has requested that the planning application be deferred while an assessment is carried out and it will now not be considered by the planning committee on July 31.
'The results of the assessment will be carefully considered by the council's planning team before a revised recommendation is made to a future Planning Committee.
'Councillors on the committee will then consider whether the agreed provision of affordable housing, in conjunction with any other benefits – such as the extension of existing footpaths, outweigh any potential concerns - such as the extent of the provision of play space, which has been raised by some objectors.'
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