Construction of a 163-home development in Blofield could begin this summer should it receive planning permission.

Hopkins Homes has submitted a reserved matters application for the site, which sits between Yarmouth Road and the A47 dual carriageway.

Outline permission for the scheme, which was originally for up to 175 properties, was granted by Broadland District Council's planning committee on June 12 last year.

It forms part of a larger site which has previously received permission for employment space, a pub and supermarket on the western side.

Despite the green light being given for the pub and surpermarket in 2014, building work is yet to begin.

The proposed housing development covers around 19-acres of agricultural land on the western side of Blofield, located around six miles from Norwich.

Chris Smith, development planner at Hopkins Homes, said if permission is granted, building work on the site could begin in late summer this year.

Blofield Parish Council is due to discuss the scheme at its planning meeting on February 26.

Council chairman Rob Christie said the site had a 'history' of developers trying to build on it.

Initial permission was granted at appeal in March 2013 for a mixed-use development of 175 homes and 4,000sqm of employment space.

Mr Christie believed the latest scheme would be approved by Broadland, but said it was now important to try and get the best outcome for the parish.

'We have been expecting for it [the land] to be built on for a while now,' he said.

'It is located right as you come into the village and you could argue that if it is going to developed, it might be better to do it, rather than have it sitting there waiting.'

He said the growing number of developments across the village would put pressure on existing facilities, such as the school and GP surgery.

'There are probably round 250 homes being built in Blofield at the moment,' Mr Christie said.

'The parish was expecting to get around 75 homes in the current planning round, but it will likely top 500 homes altogether.'

To view the application, search 20172131 in Broadland District Council's planning portal.