A councillor fears plans for hundreds of new homes are being "shoehorned" through before vital road improvements are made.

Alexandra Kemp, who represents South and West Lynn Ward, is leading a protest along with locals against Hopkins Homes' proposed development in West Winch, arguing the infrastructure needs to be in place before it is approved.

But West Norfolk Council has said it is set to consider approving only 300 of the homes, with no more to be occupied until "significant highways infrastructure" is introduced.

Eastern Daily Press: Councillor Alexandra KempCouncillor Alexandra Kemp (Image: Chris Bishop)

Ms Kemp, who quit her Borough Council cabinet role over the issue, said: "It would be catastrophic and utterly irresponsible to let the development happen without the infrastructure in place first. It would contravene every rule in the book.

"This will be a major disaster in town planning and will produce an unsafe highway system on the major route network. The A10 in West Winch is already grossly over capacity.

"People locally say it is like a 'giant car park' as it is - we need to take account of the problems we have now before any new homes are built."

READ MORE: Demands for bypass to be built before 4,000 home development

West Norfolk Council (WNC) has earmarked land near West Winch, between King's Lynn and Downham Market, for 4,000 homes in its local plan - a document which identifies areas where new housing should be built between now and 2036.

It will be the largest housing development the region has ever seen.

Eastern Daily Press: A council graphic showing the area earmarked for 4,000 homes and proposed new road at West Winch, south of King's Lynn (Image: West Norfolk Council)A council graphic showing the area earmarked for 4,000 homes and proposed new road at West Winch, south of King's Lynn (Image: West Norfolk Council) (Image: West Norfolk Council)

The council is to consider the Hopkins Homes' application in October - the first to go before the planning committee. 

A spokeswoman said that the council does "everything pertinent" but the outcomes on some matters are limited by legislation, building regulations and funding streams. 

In order to secure funding for the new access road, it would need to prove the new housing is on track to being completed.

"We are working hard with Norfolk County Council to deliver the West Winch Housing Access Road. This will connect the existing A10 south of West Winch to the A47 before it reaches the Hardwick junction, providing the necessary highway infrastructure to enable all of the planned growth area development.

"The ambition is to have the new road open to the public before the vast majority of the housing is in place and in the interim the planning condition will place a hard limit of 300 dwellings.

"To this end, NCC are already in the process of securing funding from the Department for Transport, who have already confirmed their approval of the Strategic Outline Business Case.  NCC will be submitting a further business case this autumn and planning application for the road before the end of the year."

Proposals for the access road, which would help alleviate the traffic woes, have been on the cards for decades.

READ MORE: West Winch homes bid could be 'unblocked' by tweaked wording

Eastern Daily Press: High traffic levels are already a concern on the A10High traffic levels are already a concern on the A10 (Image: Newsquest)

It has been proposed to link the A10 and A47, which West Norfolk Council say it is working hard to deliver but funding is still yet to be secured. 

Ms Kemp added: "There needs to be 110pc certainty that the bypass will be created before any of the homes are approved.

"The borough council must exert power to make sure the necessary infrastructure is delivered and it must not take no for an answer."

Eastern Daily Press: Up to 4,000 homes are planned for what is currently farmland east of the A10 at West WinchUp to 4,000 homes are planned for what is currently farmland east of the A10 at West Winch (Image: Chris Bishop)

On Thursday, locals plan to protest against the development, while also arguing for new pedestrian crossings to be created for the A10 amid complaints they currently cannot cross the road safely to get to the bus stop.

Ms Kemp believes planners should "compel" Hopkins Homes to pay for the crossing as part of the development.

One of the people joining the protest is Patricia Field, who is in her 70s and lives in East View Park in West Winch.

She said: "We are being denied the right to walk safely to our village.

"I've seen children do a dice of death trying to get home.

"I'm not against new housing but it has to be done the right way."

The protest is due to take place from 10am at the roadside of the A10 in West Winch.