An affordable housing scheme in Ashill has been put on hold until the status of a tree has been determined.Yesterday Breckland Council's development control committee was set to decide whether a seven-home development on Goose Green should go ahead.

An affordable housing scheme in Ashill has been put on hold until the status of a tree has been determined.

Yesterday Breckland Council's development control committee was set to decide whether a seven-home development on Goose Green should go ahead.

But councillors were concerned that a black poplar tree, with a recent preservation order placed on it, would need to be felled to make way for the homes, to be built by Peddars Way Housing.

Michael Fanthorpe said: “It is unacceptable. We should be trying to protect this tree, rather than cutting it down. Surely there must be some way the design can be moved to accommodate the tree.”

Planning officers said the benefits from the development would outweigh the tree's continued protection.

The tree preservation order has only recently been served, and the decision is currently being appealed, so councillors agreed to hold off making a decision until the appeal has been heard.