Planning officials insisted that there were 'no done deals' over where new development would take place in Wymondham during the launch of a latest consultation on growth plans.

Residents were urged to have their say on the town's expansion last night as part of a new two-month consultation period.

However, South Norfolk Council officials added that they were powerless to stop developers from submitting pre-emptive plans before the completion of the Wymondham Area Action Plan, which will set the town's planning blueprint over the next 14 years.

Yesterday saw the launch of the latest public consultation asking people's views on where 2,200 new homes should go by 2026 and proposals on new employment, green space and infrastructure opportunities.

It was followed by a public meeting chaired by Mid Norfolk MP George Freeman, who urged local people to get involved in the latest planning process.

The Area Action Plan consultation comes after the Greater Norwich Development Partnership's Joint Core Strategy was adopted last year, which has earmarked more than 9,000 new homes for the South Norfolk area.

Tim Horspole, planning policy manager at South Norfolk Council, said the work would help formulate a planning blueprint for the town, which is set to grow by more than 30pc.

'It is not a done deal, but the world will not stand still while we prepare our plan. There are certain pressures such as proposals for housing and supermarket plans. Given our land supply issues, developers will continue to promote those sites ahead of our process.'

The action plan includes proposals for an extra 50 acres of employment land, town centre improvements, new 'Ketts Country Park', better transport links and more school places.

A final Wymondham planning blueprint is due to be in place by 2013. However, different developers have already submitted proposals for hundreds of new homes off Norwich Common and Silfield Road.

Wymondham resident Peter Wiseman questioned whether there was the demand for 2,200 new homes and raised concerns about the threat to Wymondham's green spaces.

'There are a lot of empty properties in Wymondham already and it seems rather nonsensical to put a large supermarket on one of our green spaces. We need more food outlets, but we need to be careful where we place them,' he said.

The consultation, which ends on March 16, takes the form of a survey which can be filled in at www.south-norfolk.gov.uk/wymondham

There will also be consultation events at Wymondham Leisure Centre between February 13 and 17 and at Wymondham Library between February 20 and 24.