A thousand new homes will be built on the outskirts of Norwich, after city councillors granted planning permission for a scheme at Bowthorpe.

Norwich City Council had applied to its own planning committee for permission to redevelop the Three Score site, south of Clover Hill.

And members of the city council's planning committee today approved the scheme unanimously.

The scheme includes up to a thousand homes, a care home, a new village centre with at least one shop and a public open space.

The city council snapped up 502 acres of land at Bowthorpe in a £9.5m deal 40 years ago. But while Clover Hill and Chapel Break were developed, much of Three Score remained on the drawing board.

Through a partnership with the Homes and Communities Agency, the city council came up with fresh plans for the site.

But people living nearby raised concerns about a bus route through the development, saying it could put children at risk and passengers on double decker buses would be able to see into their homes and gardens.

Sandra Rawlins, speaking on behalf of almost 40 residents at today's meeting, said: 'We have got no objection against the homes, we have always known they would be coming.

'But we were always led to believe the buses would go from the roundabout at Bishy Barnabee Way.'

She said people were concerned that their children, who play in nearby fields, would have to cross the road which buses will use to get to them.

And she added: 'We will have double decker buses sitting at the bottom of our gardens, able to see into our gardens, conservatories and bedrooms.'

However, Gwyn Jones, the council's city growth and development manager, said: 'This is a really important strategic site for the city and in providing housing in the city.

'Without this Norwich and Greater Norwich would not meet its housing targets set in the Joint Core Strategy.

'It's also really important for the council because it is part of our partnership with the Homes and Conmunities Agency.

'Proceeds from development will be reinvested into housing regeneration projects elsewhere in the city.'

Officers said they did not believe the buses presented any safety issues and said there were many other examples in the city of buses passing people's gardens.

Although the committee approved the plans, councillors agreed to request that the bus lane position be reconsidered - which could yet see that part of the scheme redesigned.

The development would include one and two bedroom flats and two, three and four bedroom houses.

Almost 50 of the homes would be the first council homes built in Norwich for the best part of two decades.

The council says the visual impact on the setting of the Yare Valley nearby can be mitigated through landscaping and the design of the buildings along the southern part of the site.

It is estimated it will take between 10 and 12 years for all the homes to be built.