The Council of Ministers has approved Heritage Homes’ application to reduce the number of affordable houses it provides on land east of Gardeners Lane, Poylldooey, Ramsey.
As part of approval for 45 homes on the site, one of the conditions was to provide 11 affordable houses.
But it has now been agreed that it can provide three, as long as they are completed within two years.
The applicant said it needed the change to ensure the development’s viability.
The Department of Social Care said that at the end of April, the first time buyers register included 35 people with Ramsey as first choice and 11 as second choice. It said there had been little interest for flats but pressure for homes.
In its submission, it said: ‘The promise of three affordable houses in the near future would be more beneficial, in addressing the immediate need, than waiting indeterminately for 11 such houses.’
Ramsey Commissioners said the provision of 11 affordable houses should be retained, saying the West Ramsey Development Framework had existed since 2004.