Plans for hundreds of new homes on the outskirts of Norwich are likely to have 'tremendous implications', community leaders have said.

Developers have just lodged plans for 650 homes in Cringleford and, on top of a separate scheme for 850 houses proposed nearby, the village's 3,000-plus population could grow by 50pc if both schemes get the go-ahead.

The latest application, which would see homes built on farmland either side of the A11 and to the side of the existing Roundhouse Way development, has been submitted by Land Fund Limited – made up of a number of landowners.

As well as the houses – a mix of one, two, three, four and five- bedroom homes – the developer wants to provide up to 2.500sqm of commercial floorspace, which could include restaurants, bars, shops or a GP surgery.

The plans also include a 20- hectare open space to the east of the A47, a village green to the north of Cantley Lane and new connecting roads at the A11 roundabout and at The Pines roundabout.

Garry Wheatley, who represents Cringleford on South Norfolk Council, said a blueprint for growth in and around Norwich meant it was inevitable that developers would submit plans for the area – but that the proposals had to be right for the village.

He said: 'The joint core strategy has indicated 1,200 homes could be built in Cringleford over the next 15 to 16 years, so with that in mind, we have been expecting developers to come forward.

'While we have got to comply with the joint core strategy, at the same time we have to have regards to what the people of Cringleford want. We need to look at these proposals very carefully. Putting 1,200 homes on top of what we have already got is clearly going to have tremendous implications.'

Earlier this year, Barratt Homes unveiled its proposals for up to 850 homes on land at Newfound Farm in Cringleford, although a planning

application has yet to be formally lodged.

The developers behind the latest application say they have been work-ing with Barratt Homes to make sure the schemes complement each

other. In documents lodged with South Norfolk Council, Deloitte, acting as agents for the landowners, stressed they were keen to make sure

the developments, including the 1,000 home Roundhouse Way scheme, meshed together.

They wanted to prevent 'the threat of Cringleford becoming a series of separate 'pocket' developments which 'turned their backs on each

other and the public realm'.

They stated: 'Land Fund Limited and Barratt Homes have been collab-orating to develop a vision in which each of their design proposals relate to each other.'

One of the suggestions is to 'retro-fit' some of the existing roads, such as Roundhouse Way, from 'car orien-tated environments' into 'pedestrian

prioritised places and spaces'.

Cringleford Parish Council, well aware that 1,200 homes had been allo-cated for its area, has blazed a trail in drawing up a parish plan outlining

where it believes homes could be acceptable. They were the first parish in South Norfolk to come up with such a plan. The plan highlights

areas where homes could be built and what new roads and facilities are needed to cope with the new arrivals.

Parish clerk Anne Barnes said she did not want to comment on the plans lodged by Land Fund Limited at this stage, but it is understood the propos-als do not conform to the parish plan.

The parish council has asked South Norfolk Council for an extension to the time limit for comments, so it can meet on Thursday, September 12 to come up with a response.?