Matthew Homes Ltd had sought to strip out all 10 affordable properties from a 48-home development in Dereham, which had originally been approved in 2019.

The firm argued that rising costs, inflation and £1.2 million in unexpected drainage and foundation bills had made the original scheme unviable, offering a one-off £30,000 contribution towards affordable housing elsewhere as a compromise.

The 48-home estate was initially approved in 2019 (Image: Google)

It comes after the developer had already abandoned a commitment to provide an off-site sports facility in the town as part of the same development - arguing at the time that dropping the provision was necessary to ensure it could still deliver........

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