Plans for hundreds of new homes on the edge of Attleborough are being tipped for approval, despite concerns that the scheme pre-empts a planning blueprint for the town.

Proposals for 375 homes and new employment land are being recommended for the go-ahead after a similar application was rejected by councillors in July because of highway concerns and because they came before the conclusion of the Attleborough and Snetterton Heath Area Action Plan (ASHAAP).

Planning officers at Breckland Council are recommending that the proposals by national house builder Taylor Wimpey be approved at a meeting on November 26, which will help to deliver some of the 4,000 new homes and around 2,000 new jobs earmarked for Attleborough by 2026.

The recommendation comes despite opposition from Attleborough Town Council and the Attleborough Community Team on the grounds that the site off London Road is outside the development boundary and is ahead of the conclusion of the ASHAAP process.

However, in a report to councillors, planning officer Nick Moys said the district council could currently not demonstrate a five year land supply for housing and that there was still a significant amount of residential and employment land to identify through the ASHAAP, if the latest proposals were approved. He added that it would be difficult to refuse the scheme because it pre-empted the growth plan for Attleborough.

Taylor Wimpey wants to build 375 new homes on 10ha of land and build up to 12,000sqm of employment floorspace on almost 4ha of greenfield land to the south west fringe of the town.

The scheme would result in 94 affordable homes being provided, which is 25pc of the development.

The proposals also include plans for 39 new allotments over 1ha and 2.34ha of public open space, including a junior football pitch.