There is a "medium risk" unexploded Second World War bombs or shells could lie beneath a Norwich site where homes could be built.

Experts have been carrying out investigations at the 10.5 acre, off Mile Cross Road, where Norwich City Council wants to build 200 council homes.

The site used to be the City Works depot, where the council's fleet of vehicles were once based.

More recently it was the Mile Cross Business Centre, before those buildings were demolished.

Eastern Daily Press: The Mile Cross depot siteThe Mile Cross depot site (Image: Google Maps)

Norwich City Council agreed two years ago it wanted to redevelop the site for housing, but needs to carry out work to make the site safe before that can happen.

The council had already carried out test drillings of the area and has now applied to its own planning committee for permission to remove material and contaminants from the site and level off the ground.

Given the site was used to dispose of rubble after buildings in the city were bombed during the Baedeker Raids of 1942, experts have had to consider whether there could be unexploded ordnance - such as bombs, mortar, shells and ammunition - at the site.

A report put together by Hertfordshire-based 1st Line Defence, states that it has been assessed as "an overall medium risk from German and anti-aircraft unexploded ordnance" and a low risk from Allied unexploded ordnance.

The analysts say five bomb strikes were recorded on or next to the site, while many other incidents happened in the wider area.

Eastern Daily Press: Soldiers lending a hand to the Nowich Fire Service as they fight the blaze at the Curls department store in Norwich city centre after the Nazis bombed it and several surrounding shops during the Baedeker raids. Date: April 28, 1942.Soldiers lending a hand to the Nowich Fire Service as they fight the blaze at the Curls department store in Norwich city centre after the Nazis bombed it and several surrounding shops during the Baedeker raids. Date: April 28, 1942. (Image: Archant Library)

They state: "Ground disturbances indicative of bomb craters are visible in high resolution post-war photography.

"These bombs were falling in and around a likely infrequently accessed site wherein the ground cover was not conducive towards the observation of unexploded ordnance, thereby elevating the possibility of unexploded bombs falling unnoticed and becoming lost.

"As a result, the site has been assessed as being at an overall medium risk of unexploded ordnance contamination."

They recommend that, when work is done, an unexploded ordnance specialist should be on site, that workers should be briefed on how to spot potential dangers and that a plan should be in place for what to do if any is discovered.

Eastern Daily Press: Work at the Mile Cross depot siteWork at the Mile Cross depot site (Image: Norwich City Council)

A Norwich City Council spokeswoman said: “There is nothing to suggest there is a specific issue with the Mile Cross site - this is simply part of our proactive management of risk given Norwich was bombed during the Second World War.

"As part of this, experts have been commissioned to investigate and make recommendations for any potential mitigating measures.

"Initial investigations ahead of drilling and excavating have shown no unexploded devices present.

"We will continue to consult experts and maintain our prudent approach at all stages of construction and development.”