A deal has been struck to save the City of Norwich Aviation Museum – even though the Northern Distributor Road is due to be built through its site.

The £178.5m road is earmarked to pass where historical aircraft are currently sited at the Horsham St Faith museum – and that had left its future up in the air.

The 12.5-mile road is due to stretch from the A47 at Postwick to the A1067 Fakenham Road.

But Norfolk County Council needs to compulsory purchase land along the way, including about half an acre at the museum.

And, following talks, an agreement has been reached which would, if planning permission is secured, see the museum get just over an acre of land to the west – which currently belongs to the airport – in return for giving up the section required for the road.

That would mean aircraft would have to be carefully moved a few hundred yards, but, crucially, the volunteer-run museum itself would not have to move.

Documents lodged with Broadland District Council, which would need to rubber stamp the switch, state: 'The Norwich Northern Distributor Road has recently been approved, the alignment of which passes through land currently used by the City of Norwich Aviation Museum for museum use/standing of stationary decommissioned aircraft.

'Part of the land will no longer therefore be able to be used for museum use and an agreement has been reached for the acquisition of an adjacent area of land to compensate for the area to be lost.'

Part of the site which does not have planning permission also needs to be brought into line.

The museum started out as an aviation enthusiasts group for members of the Eastern Counties Omnibus Company in 1977. Exhibits were originally sited on a runway at Norwich Airport.

By 1985, it had moved to its present site at Horsham St Faith. Planes on display include an Avro Vulcan B.2, a Hawker Hunter F.51 and a Lockheed T-33A Shooting Star.

Business leaders say the NDR, which is now being built, will mean a £1.3bn shot in the arm for Norfolk's economy, while council leaders said it would create new homes and jobs, as well as speeding up traffic.

However, critics say it will lead to urban sprawl and pollution, while destroying the quality of life in rural villages.

Norfolk County Council and the City of Norwich Aviation Museum were unavailable for comment yesterday.

Do you want to see the aviation museum survive? Write, giving full contact details, to Letters Editor, Prospect House, Rouen Road, Norwich NR1 1RE.