Developers are attempting to overturn a decision to refuse 200 homes from being built in North Walsham.

MLN (Land and Properties) Ltd were denied permission to build on land between Aylsham Road and Greens Road on August 3 last year.

At the time, North Norfolk District Council's development committee refused the scheme, stating it was on land designated as countryside and therefore represented a departure from the development plan.

It was the second time the scheme had been turned down. The developer was also refused permission for its original plan in March 2017.

MLN has since lodged an appeal with the planning inspectorate in a bid to challenge the council's decision.

Property consultancy firm GVA - on behalf of MLN - claims the 200-home scheme 'fully accords' with the council's development plan.

In an appeal document, it also claims there were a number of material considerations that indicate the appeal should succeed.

Eric Seward, North Norfolk councillor for North Walsham East ward, said there was not much support for scheme locally.

He said: 'The reason for its refusal was that there was already an adequate supply of land for housing, therefore there was no need for the developer to go into the countryside.

'We would hope that when the planning inspector looks at the application, they would want to uphold the council's decision.'

The appeal was lodged in February and people have until March 28 to make a comment.

A date or venue for the inquiry to take place has not yet been decided

The original application for the site was submitted in 2016. But it was turned down amid fears it could jeopardise the town's future growth.

MLN's second application included the plans for 90 affordable homes, however it no longer proposed a gift of land to help North Walsham FC relocate.

Speaking in August last year, residents argued that the scheme did not deliver the infrastructure needed in the town.

Mr Seward, Liberal Democrat, echoed those concerns, adding: 'There was not a lot of support for it, and the road network here is poor. There is a campaign at the moment to reduce speed limits in the area.'