A housing trust has been given consent to build affordable homes on a car park at its premises in south Norfolk. The site at Swan Lane, Tharston, is next to South Norfolk Council's offices in neighbouring Long Stratton.

A housing trust has been given consent to build affordable homes on a car park at its premises in south Norfolk.

The site at Swan Lane, Tharston, is next to South Norfolk Council's offices in neighbouring Long Stratton. And the application, by Saffon Housing Trust, was approved on Wednesday by the authority's main planning committee, subject to minor amendments to the proposed road layout and a legal agreement making the new properties affordable in perpetuity.

The scheme is for 13 two and three bedroomed houses that will be offered for rent. The proposal is for a semi-circular layout around a central green, retaining specimen trees on the site. The new homes will incorporate sustainable features such as passive solar heating, solar panels and air source heat pumps instead of oil, and will be “highly energy efficient”.

The committee also approved in principle a separate application to build two office extensions to the trust's premises, Saffron Barn, and to relocate the existing staff car park and maintenance yard to adjoining land.