Peddars Way Housing Association wants to build seven affordable houses and provide a parking area for people with properties close to the green.

Building the homes will require the felling of a black poplar, which is the subject of a recently-served tree preservation order – and existing residents have raised concerns about this.

But a report to Monday’s Breckland Council development control committee says that while the loss of the protected tree is “regrettable”, on balance the benefits resulting from the development should outweigh its continued protection.

It says the loss of the tree, which is not in a prominent position and barely visible from the adjacent road, can be offset by a planting scheme on the green.

Councillors are being advised to grant planning consent with conditions relating to design, parking, access, landscaping, contamination and residential amenity.