A proposed housing development on the edge of the city could be reduced from five homes to four.
Applicant Richard Gurney is hoping to build five properties on land formerly associated with a sawmill just off Blue Boar Lane in Sprowston.
The area is next to Sprowston Garden Centre and is currently made up of redundant garden land.
But the project has faced backlash from locals - including the town council - over both its "dangerous" proximity to a blind bend on a busy 30mph road and its impact on the surrounding environment.
One objector opposed seeing homes "crammed" into the patch of land, while Sprowston Town Council said the scheme represented an "overdevelopment" of the site.
An email exchange published on Broadland District Council's planning portal revealed the applicant has now suggested reducing the number of homes to four.
A note penned to planning officers by the agent Locus Planning said: "Further to our previous discussions, and my site meeting with the council's tree officer, the applicant is minded to reduce the scheme to four dwellings.
"To assist us in the redesign, please could you confirm which plot(s) in your view require attention?"
A senior planning officer responded: "I think this one is perhaps a lot more complicated than losing just one plot in itself.
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"Clearly the issue here is the proximity to the trees. Therefore I'd imagine losing one dwelling would hopefully free up enough space with the re-design of the whole site to remove any issues with the proximity of the trees."
A design and access statement submitted by Mr Gurney admitted vehicular access would need to be improved to provide on-site servicing for the proposed development.
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As such, a T-junction - which would require the removal of a seven-metre hedgerow - has been proposed as part of the application.
"We have had several near misses pulling out of our drive as it is on a blind bend," wrote one objector.
"The new proposed junction for the new houses is even more dangerous."
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