The timetable for constructing almost 5,000 new homes at Tornagrain could be pushed back by three years.
Last month, the first residents moved into the new town to the east of Inverness, which will eventually be home to more than 10,000 people
But Moray Estates Development Company, which is behind the scheme, has applied for “flexibility” on the planning conditions for delivering the remaining houses.
When originally approved, it was envisaged that work on the site would begin in 2012 but it did not get under way until 2015.
The late start has had a knock-on impact of the delivery of all seven phases of the 4,967-home development, and permission is needed to alter the planning conditions.
Under the proposal, each phase would be pushed back by three years, with the end date becoming 2044 instead of 2041.
Four objections have been received to the idea but local authority officials have recommended that the changes are approved when councillors meet to discuss the move on Tuesday.
In a report to committee members, officers said: “The overall quantum of development remains in accordance with the development plan albeit the detail of when these elements will be delivered has changed.”