The number of “desperately needed” affordable homes being built on farmland on the outskirts of a mid-Norfolk village looks set to be increased.Hastoe Housing Association was given permission to build 12 homes at Dunnetts Close, Ashill, in February this year.

The number of “desperately needed” affordable homes being built on farmland on the outskirts of a mid-Norfolk village looks set to be increased.

Hastoe Housing Association was given permission to build 12 homes at Dunnetts Close, Ashill, in February this year.

The scheme was approved on its second submission, after having previously been refused by councillors on Breckland District Council's planning panel, who said it resembled “something out of Eastern Europe”.

But now, with construction work at the site under way, Hastoe has applied to increase the number of homes to 14.

A 2007 survey revealed 59 households in Ashill are in need of housing, with 39 requiring affordable properties. Hascoe argues the extra affordable homes are needed and

has said it will help offset the cost

of unforeseen engineering work required to alter a gas main which currently lies at an insufficient depth to allow necessary road widening to take place.

The association says the extra work will cost more than £145,000 to carry out and estimates the disruption will cost it an extra £100,000.

A report to go before the council's planning panel on October 13 has recommended the revised plans be approved.

It says the council's housing officer agrees that there is a need for the extra affordable housing in the village and the principle of development was already established for the site when the previous approval was given.