A development brief was drawn up for the former bomber and Cold War missile base, near Fakenham, last December.

FW Properties proposed 500 homes and new workspace on the 158-acre site.

But North Norfolk council launched a public consultation into the blueprint.

Now a report to councillors, who meet next week to discuss responses, says the council supports the re-use of buildings on the site.

But it adds: 'However the scale of growth required to financially enable the development is such that a settlement of considerable size would be created with little or no certainty in the brief that residents of the new development would have reasonable access to shops and services necessary for day-to-day living without the need to travel by car to higher order settlements such as Fakenham.

'The benefits of the re-use of existing buildings including the creation of new homes and employment opportunities would be outweighed by the harm resulting from the creation of an unsustainable form of development contrary to the three strands of sustainability set out in the national planning policy framework. As such the council cannot support the brief in its current

form.'

Objections included the remoteness of the site, number of homes proposed and narrow roads around the site.

There were also concerns at the lack of scope to preserve what was described as 'a wonderful example of a World War II base in

the heart of Norfolk'.

The base, was home to bomber crews during the Second World War. It was then used by squadrons of jet fighters, before it became a base for Bloodhound missiles, finally closing in 1994.

It still houses hangers, the station headquarters, officers' mess, and a Grade II listed control tower, with businesses also occupying some parts of the site.

Councillors on North Norfolk's planning policy committee meet at the council offices in Holt Road, Cromer on Monday, September 19 (9am) to discuss the development.