A parish councillor fears there is little which can be done to stop 283 homes from being built to the east of Norwich.

Developer Landform Norwich is proposing to build the properties on land to the north of Smee Lane, near the Broadland Business Park.

The site covers more than 40 acres and sits next to the Norwich Northern Distributor Road on its eastern edge.

Around five acres has also been set aside for a new two-form primary school.

Andrew Cawdron, Great Plumstead parish councillor, said he did not think 'much' could be done to stop the scheme from going ahead.

The proposed site is allocated for 'mixed-use' development in Broadland District Council's growth triangle area action plan.

Mr Cawdron said: 'As it is part of the overall development plan, I don't think there is very much we are going to be able to do about it.'

He said the scheme would result in the loss of top grade agricultural land and expressed concern over the proposed phasing of development.

'The possibility of public transport is being phased in much later,' he said.

The plans, which have been submitted to Broadland District Council, are split into two applications.

The first seeks permission for 272 homes, while the second is for 11 self-build residential plots.

Applicant Landform Norwich said the new homes will be a mix of bungalows, terraced, semi-detached, detached and apartment buildings, of which 56 will be classed as 'affordable housing'.

An open green space, incorporating the 'majority' of an existing orchard, is also included in the plans.

The main access to the neighbourhood will be via a new road from the roundabout of Peachman Way/Smee Lane.

As part of the development, an existing 15m-high phone mast in the northern part of the site will be removed and relocated.

A number of buildings associated with a previous garden nursery will also have to be demolished.

The latest application comes as a London-based developer looks to build on a 60-acre site south of Smee Lane.Last year, an environmental impact assessment scoping report was submitted to Broadland. It hinted at a possible 550 homes on the site.