Plans for a new Asda supermarket in south Norwich will be discussed next week, amid calls by community groups to back the proposals.

The new store in Harford Place, off Hall Road, will create 300 jobs, as part of an all-new district centre, and the application is set to be decided by Norwich City Council on Thursday, September 20.

The plans to transform the old industrial shoe factory site are being backed by Norwich-based Chermond Gymnastics Club and Norman Wanderers Football Club, both of whom have been supported by Asda in Hellesdon.

Cherie Alcock, founder of the Chermond club, which offers an alternative activity for children and young people in Norwich, said Asda had provided help after it was threatened with closure.

She said: 'We're backing Asda's plans for a second store because we know it will help to support even more local community groups, which would be a genuinely positive thing.'

And Norman Wanderers Football Club, which has teams across nine age groups and provides training programmes for five to 16-year-olds, has raised more �360 with help from Asda.

'It has recently applied to the Asda Foundation for a �11,500 significant project grant.

An Asda spokesman said that the proposed second store in the Norwich area would include a public space created for local groups and organisations to use.

A selection of smaller retail units and enterprise business units are also set to be built at the site, as well as a pub and a gym.

As reported, the development plans for the area were put on hold for several years after the recession put an original �122m plan for the Harford Place site on hold.

For more details about the plans, go to www.asdaharfordplace.co.uk