The owners of nearly 730 acres of land around Norwich look set to have to sell up so that the £148.5m Northern Distributor Road can be built.

Nearly 630 acres of farmland, 25 acres of woodland and part of the grounds to several homes and businesses, including at the City of Norwich Aviation Museum, has been earmarked as needed for the controversial road's route.

And Norfolk County Council has estimated that just over £14m of the £148.5m cost of the road will be needed to pay up those forced to sell their land.

Transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin last week agreed to grant a development consent order for the 12.5-mile road, which will stretch from the A1067 Fakenham Road at Attlebridge in the west to Postwick in the east of the city.

And this week, the county council published details of the land which it is likely to have to compulsorily purchase in order for the dual carriageway to be built.

Under compulsory purchase orders, public bodies, such as councils, can force landowners and property owners to sell up.

Compensation is paid based on what the land might be expected to realise if sold in the open market, while people can also claim for costs and disturbance compensation.

Along with the farmland, 55.8 acres of public highway, verges, cycleways, carriageway and footpaths, including a section of the Marriott's Way near Taverham, will need to be bought.

And a number of homeowners also look set to lose part of their grounds. Land connected to homes in Horsford, Drayton and Taverham is needed.

The council says some 11 acres of land at Norwich International Airport, including grassland and runways, is needed for the road. Nearly half an acre at the City of Norwich Aviation Museum, in Horsham St Faith, is also required.

A county council spokesman said: 'We have for some time been in touch with landowners and their agents, so they will already be aware that plots of their land are needed for the road.

'Access has already been needed on some plots for archaeological and environmental surveys. A considerable amount of work lies ahead to agree compensation, but this does not have to be all done and dusted before we take possession of the land and start work.

'Once a start date is confirmed, formal notices will be issued to landowners, allowing entry onto and possession of the land.'

Along with the land which would be compulsorily bought, there are more than 1,000 people and organisations who could be entitled to compensation because of issues such as noise or loss of rights of way.

The council has already agreed blight notices for three properties, including a home belonging to the Scott family in Thorpe End.

A compensation package of up to £450,000 was agreed earlier this year because their home was directly next to where a bridge is intended to carry the NDR over Plumstead Road. The council would also need to take up part of their garden during construction.

The county council says the road will bring a huge economic boost and connected improvements, such as a rapid bus transit in Norwich.

But critics warned it will lead to rat-running and say the homes which will spring up around it will concrete over swathes of the countryside.

• Will you have to sell up because of the Norwich Northern Distributor Road? Tell us what you think of that by emailing dan.grimmer@archant.co.uk or call 01603 772375.