A mystery buyer is on the brink of buying hundreds of acres of land on the edge of Norwich - which could finally unlock the long-stalled construction of 3,500 new homes.

The identity of the investor who wants to buy the land to the north of the city, where the Beeston Park development is planned, is not being made public yet.

But the promoter of the scheme, in the pipeline for more than a decade, said they are optimistic the deal will be sealed by the summer, once contractual issues are settled.

Eastern Daily Press: An artist's impression of how the site could look, from when plans were lodged a decade agoAn artist's impression of how the site could look, from when plans were lodged a decade ago (Image: Beyond Green)

The major urban extension, which includes 3,500 homes on land in Old Catton and Sprowston - much of it between North Walsham and Wroxham Road - was granted planning permission in 2013.

But work has yet to start, despite a group of five landowners, including Norfolk County Council, being ready to sell the 400 acres for the scheme.

READ MORE: Rackheath and Beeston Park homes progress hope

Eastern Daily Press: Mike Bodkin, from Beeston Park promoters TOWNMike Bodkin, from Beeston Park promoters TOWN (Image: Tom Pilston)

However, Mike Bodkin, from promoters TOWN and U&I, confirmed a deal is close.

He said: "The incoming investor has significant investment and alongside them, and working very closely with them, is a regional scale housebuilder.

"I can assure you, the incoming investor is champing at the bit to reveal themselves."

Addressing a recent meeting of planning inspectors considering the Greater Norwich Local Plan - a blueprint for where 50,000 homes will be built by 2036 - Mr Bodkin said contracts had been exchanged last year.

But a directive by Natural England regarding 'nutrient neutrality' put a "great big spanner in the works".

READ MORE: How two words left Norfolk's plans for thousands of homes in limbo

That directive, aiming to stop nutrients from new homes polluting the River Wensum and Broads, blocked councils from giving planning permission.

That has held up the granting of reserved matters around the infrastructure connected to the homes plans.

But Mr Bodkin said that with proposed mitigation plans, such as the on-site treatment of wastewater, he expects the sale to go through after the reserved matters issue is agreed by Broadland District Council.