A new government planning tsar has backed calls for Norwich to be turned into a 'garden city' - which would see it double in size.

Chancellor George Osborne this week appointed former Labour cabinet minister Lord Adonis to run a new National Infrastructure Commission to help build more roads, railways, airports, power stations and homes for Britain.

Just weeks before the appointment, Lord Adonis wrote an article in which he backed proposals by urban designer David Rudlin.

Mr Rudlin last year called for Norwich to be one of dozens of towns and cities to double in size by becoming 'garden cities'.

Lord Adonis said he had been 'persuaded' that was the right course and that 'bold action' was needed by the state to plan such extensions.

Brandon Lewis, Great Yarmouth MP and local government minister said: 'I am actually very keen on garden cities, garden villages, garden city principles – that structure of creating new settlements with the right infrastructure in a way that benefits communities. But this has got to come from the local area.

'I would be delighted if Norfolk wanted to come together and make that case and work on something like that, for Norfolk.

Alan Waters, leader of Norwich City Council, said: ''Norwich already has ambitious plans in place for the provision of homes and infrastructure over the next decade.

'We would welcome any support from the government to help us deliver this growth and build upon it.'