A Norfolk landowner has defended his vision of creating a 'food hub' on the fringe of Norwich, in response to concerns raised by surrounding villagers.

Ian Alston, of Honingham Thorpe Farms, said he hopes to generate rural employment and add value to Norfolk's produce by creating a cluster of food-related industries.

The first planned phase is on a 20-hectare site near the A47, linking the food and farming expertise of the nearby Norfolk Showground, Easton and Otley College, and the Norwich Research Park.

But his ambitions have drawn angry criticism from neighbouring villages – with particular concerns raised about the impact of traffic on road safety. At a public meeting this week, one resident said: 'The roads around here are terrible. If this goes ahead, it won't be safe for anyone.'

But Mr Alston said: 'I do not envisage any need for traffic to go through the villages. That is why we are putting it on the side of a trunk road and seeking a new direct access. I want to make it clear that by working with the local community and highways officers we are very keen to ensure that the traffic impacts on the villages are minimal, by the use of weight restrictions and the banning of food hub traffic through the villages.

'The hub is a long-term vision. We have a fantastic opportunity to recreate employment in the countryside, and to promote our excellent food producers in the heart of the county. Norfolk produces 7.5pc of the total English farm output value, but it only adds value to 2.5pc, which means we are effectively exporting jobs out of this county.'

In response to concerns about potential damage to the rural character of the area, Mr Alston said: 'I am not a developer. Our family has been here since about 1930 and we hope to be here for generations to come.

'Because we live here, we will be targeting businesses that have the least possible impact on the community. People are talking about noise and smell, but certain types of activity will not be welcome – there will not be a slaughterhouse, for example.

'There have been fears raised about habitat destruction and traffic, but we have planted 10,000 trees and we envisage at least another 10,000 to mitigate the landscape impact of what we want to do.

'We have already invested in roads to take traffic away from the villages, and we want to do more of that.'

The lack of detailed information on the scheme has also angered local campaigners. Mr Alston said: 'I have invited the parish council from Easton to see me next week, and they can ask any questions they like.

'It is not some attempt to shroud the vision in secrecy. We have got two potential occupiers, but one has asked me to sign a non-disclosure agreement and another has expressed significant interest in coming here, but I am not at liberty to say who they are.

'This is not something where you snap your fingers and it just happens. It all has to be funded, and at the moment we have not even got permission to open the gate after 10 years of developing these ideas. So you can see why I cannot give you all the details, because I don't have them yet.'

VILLAGERS' CONCERNS

Concerns about the food hub scheme were voiced by about 100 villagers at a public meeting in Marlingford Village Hall.

People from Easton, Colton and Marlingford raised several issues including the perceived industrialisation of the countryside, the loss of arable land, and the potential noise and pollution from 24-hour processing plants.

But the most common concern surrounded traffic and road safety, with fears raised over a significant uplift in HGVs and cars. Although the proposed access from the A47 would not go through any villages, concerns remained about drivers being mis-directed by sat-navs from the south, or deliberately creating short-cuts and rat-runs.

Phil Courtier, head of planning at Broadland District Council, said although the draft Local Development Order (LDO) for the 20-hectare site was at an early stage, discussions were already under way with the Highways Agency and county highways officers – and that any new access road would need to be in place before any construction work started.

Chris Watts, who moved to Marlingford two years ago, asked why no other sites were being considered to meet the councils' policy goal of creating a Food Enterprise Zone.

He said: 'The main road in and out of Norfolk is the A11, so why put it at the wrong end of the A47? Can you put your hand on your heart and say this is the right place?'

Mr Courtier answered: 'We will continue to look at this site because it is the only one on offer at the moment. I think in principle, subject to certain conditions being put in place, there is merit in exploring it further.

'But I am going to say, absolutely, that it has not been decided. No deal has been done.

'We are still relatively early in the process but I am getting a clear idea of what the issues are. The major issues would be the highways network and highway safety. There are a wide array of issues we need to consider and which we will continue to assess in drafting the LDO.'

PLANNING PROCESS

Although the concept of a food hub near Easton has been explored for a decade, it has not yet led to a formal planning application.

After Broadland District Council, South Norfolk District Council and Norwich City Council decided they wanted a food hub as part of their Joint Core Strategy, Mr Alston was the only landowner to put a scheme forward.

It was given added weight by the creation of a government-funded Food Enterprise Zone (FEZ) last March, focused around the Royal Norfolk Showground and Easton and Otley College.

Part of that requirement is to declare a local development order (LDO), similar to outline planning permission, which will set the parameters of acceptable buildings and criteria for their use. If a plan meets the conditions of the LDO, it would be approved without the need to apply for planning permission.

Phil Courtier, head of planning for the Broadland district, where the majority of the site falls, said he expects there to be a consultation on the draft LDO in the summer. The decision on whether it is adopted will rest with the members of the planning authority, but Mr Courtier said if everything ran smoothly, that could potentially happen within 12 months.