A masterplan to more than double the size of a village near Norwich has been revealed.

Builders would construct a 907-home housing estate in Easton, along with a new 'heart of the community', extended primary school and new village hall under plans submitted to South Norfolk Council.

There would also be a new shop, public open spaces and a relocated, bigger allotment site.

The scheme has been put forward by a consortium of local landowners including Easton and Otley College, the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association, the Norwich Diocesan Board of Finance and the Rampton Property Trust.

And while the parish council has welcomed the prospect of a new village centre, some residents of Easton – which had just 445 households in the 2001 census – have voiced concern over the level of growth.

The housing estate would be built on land north and south of Dereham Road in the village.

Resident Mr C Hall, of Dereham Road, wrote to South Norfolk Council to express his concerns over the impact of increased traffic on local roads.

'The main concern is access to and from the A47,' he wrote.

'A situation similar to that at the Longwater junction must be avoided at all cost.'

He called for the plans to be rejected if a new western access to the A47 was not forthcoming.

Mrs J Tubby, of Marlingford Road, Easton, questioned the location of the planned development.

She wrote: 'I would like to see the dwellings set out in an uncrowded manner on the outskirts of the village with adequate parking.'

She added that the village hall, school and village green needed to be large enough for the number of homes proposed.

Residents got their first glimpse of outline proposals in March 2014, at a display in the village.

Easton is earmarked for major housing growth under the district council's local plan and forms part of proposals for 37,000 new homes in the Greater Norwich area up until 2026. Speaking at the consultation event last year, the parish council's chairman said: 'I would prefer it not to be 900 homes, but we have to manage it and get the best out of it for the village.'

The planning application was received by South Norfolk Council on December 17, and will be voted on by councillors at a future development control committee meeting.

Details in the plan include a new 'arrival gateway' to the east of the village.

For more information, visit www.eastondevelopment.co.uk