More than 40 new homes could be built on farmland near a high school in Martham.

Developers La Ronde Wright have applied to Great Yarmouth Borough Council to build a 45-home development on land to the south of Somerton Road, close to the newly-renamed Flegg High Ormiston Academy.

If successful in gaining planning permission, the development would see an existing barn on Church Farm converted into two homes, with the addition of 43 further homes and associated infrastructure.

The proposal includes a new network of access road, public green spaces and a pond area, and would be situation to the east of White Street.

The two hectare site would include 37 homes to be placed on the market, six that would become social housing and three affordable homes.

Some concerns over the development have been raised by Marilyn Spencer, a Martham resident who owns an ancient pond adjacent to the site.

She said: “The pond is very ancient and appears on maps going back centuries. We are anxious that any development ensures that the natural water drainage will still continue to fill the pond and ensure wildlife continues to use the area.”

While she has lodged no official objection to the plans, she added: “At present there is a direct access to the pond from the original farmyard - once used for watering cattle.

“We are anxious that this should be securely fenced off as the pond is quite deep and would be a serious danger to any small child living on the estate.”

The plans specify that homes would also be a mixture of size, with the majority having either two or three bedroom capacity, though eight would have four or more bedrooms, one of which would be affordable.

All planning documentation associated to the development are available to be viewed by the public at Great Yarmouth Town Hall until Friday, February 23.

This date is also the deadline for anybody who wishes to make any representations about the plans, which they should do in writing to Great Yarmouth Borough Council’s planning development department - quoting reference number 06/17/0358/F.