An eight-week consultation has begun into a village's development plan, which includes a long-awaited bypass to alleviate traffic congestion.

South Norfolk Council has started receiving views on the Long Stratton Area Action Plan (AAP), which incorporates plans to build 1,800 new homes, with 1,200 on the east side of the village and 600 to the north west.

Funding for the bypass could come from the Community Infrastructure Levy on the new homes and the City Deal, with the aim of the new road being to reduce the amount of traffic on the A140 Ipswich Road, which becomes clogged.

The proposed plan also provides for 12 hectares of employment land, the expansion of Long Stratton's village centre and transport improvements.

The council's leader, John Fuller, (pictured), said: 'The council is serious about delivering a bypass for Long Stratton and we need to be realistic that it is from the building of new homes and commercial premises that the money to build it will be found.'

He added that the AAP, which provides a vision for Long Stratton until 2026, would be the best way of ensuring the housing growth would be conditioned to the creation of the bypass and ensuring the village had a great quality of life, including improvements to the village centre, public transport and new leisure and education facilities. Mr Fuller went on: 'We are inviting representations to the AAP.

'Having a plan means that we can control growth in housing, employment, services and infrastructure and make sure that they are completed in a co-ordinated way.

'Controlled development means Long Stratton can become one of the best places to live in south Norfolk.'

In July, the council's cabinet approved plans to allow the council to use Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPO) to buy land so the development could be completed in a 'timely manner' and landowners would be prevented from 'ransoming' each other.

The powers will only be used as a last resort if the landowners cannot agree over the sale of land. The consultation period started yesterday and runs until Friday, October 24, at 5pm. Representations can be made online or in writing. The documents can be viewed on the council's website www.south-norfolk.gov.uk/longstratton.

What would you do to improve Long Stratton? Email dominic.bareham@archant.co.uk