An application to build 200 homes in a south Norfolk town has been recommended for refusal by the parish council which says the development is just too big.

Halsbury Homes Ltd submitted an application to South Norfolk Council last month for outline planning permission to build up to 200 homes on a 15 hectare site off George Lane, Loddon, with associated infrastructure and open space, including a new roundabout junction where the A146 meets George Lane.

Thirty-four residents attended a public meeting in Loddon called by the parish council.

In a letter of response to the planning officer at South Norfolk Council, Loddon Parish Council said members felt the application would have a 'detrimental impact on the living standards of existing residents' and would 'adversely affect the character and quality of the area'.

Parish council chairman Ray Lumley said: 'Based on the increase in population we felt that it was too large a development for Loddon and we've recommended it for refusal.

'At the moment we've got a development being built in the town for 87 homes so we don't need any more.

'We had about 34 members of the public and they asked questions and expressed their views. The majority were against it.'

While councillors voted against the development, they added in their letter that they felt a development of up to 50 dwellings would be acceptable as this would serve to soften the visual impact of the existing Chet Valley Medical Practice in George Lane.

They also asked that if the application is approved, it could be subject to a legally binding agreement to build the roundabout, securing its delivery.

In a community consultation, undertaken as part of Loddon's parish plan, more than 80 per cent of people who responded said they did not think that Loddon should have more housing.

However, in the design and access statement submitted as part of the application, the developer said the site is 'sustainable and appropriate for the form of development being proposed, and would make a significant contribution to the continued vitality of the village.'

Of the 200 homes proposed there would be 134 houses sold on the open market, 56 social rented and 10 would be intermediate housing.

The application is still going through the consultation period but is expected to be heard by South Norfolk Council's development management committee some time in December.