Plans for a major housing development in a part of Norfolk boasting some of the UK's darkest skies have left amateur astronomers fearing it will blot out their view of the stars.
Flagship Housing wants to build 95 new homes on land off Hingham Road and Attleborough Road on the edge of Great Ellingham.
The village is home to the observatory of Breckland Astronomical Society and images of nebulas, galaxies, comets and planets captured from their telescope have seen the location awarded the status of Milky Way Dark Sky Discovery Site.
The plans, which would include 24 social housing homes, as well as 17 two-bedroom, 20 three-bed and 34 four-bed properties, have prompted the group and others to express concerns over the potential impact of light pollution.
In a submission to Breckland Council, Dr Dan Self, the group's chairman, said: 'Due to this site being rural outside settlement boundary and a dark sky discovery site we would require all building including the construction phase to be done with strict lighting conditions in order to accept any large application.
'Streetlights are out of the question, also property lights, any highway lights are not necessary in a village that has functioned well without them.'
The group, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, is one of a number of people urging planners to impose light pollution measures including shielding, curfews and limits on the intensity of outside lights.
Chris Greenfield, of Orchard Way in Wymondham, said: 'I'd suggest that conditions be imposed on all the properties to ensure that the dark sky is preserved. No streetlights and conditions extending to any possible future plans to install lights in gardens and security lights now, and on any later extensions to the properties.'
Concerns have also been expressed over the potential impact of the development on local services.
Louise Hollis-Keogh, of Mill Lane in Great Ellingham, said: 'At 92 houses it would increase the size of the village by a fifth - this would alter the profile of the village - it is also way beyond what the infrastructure can manage.
'Those of us who live in the village have chosen to live in a village with dark village status not in a suburb of Attleborough.'
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