People living in a village on the outskirts of Norwich are being asked to help with a blueprint which will guide where homes are built there in the years ahead.

Horsford, which is just a stone's throw from where the Norwich Northern Distributor Road is being built, and is likely to experience major changes in the next two decades.

To try to ensure the development is properly planned, the community is following in the footsteps of other Norfolk villages by putting together a neighbourhood plan.

While such a plan cannot stop development from happening, it can influence the location and look of homes, along with what community facilities should be provided and what infrastructure is needed.

And, following considerable consultation, the community is now at an important milestone in the development of the plan.

The group has come up with a list of priority ideas which will shape the way the community will develop over the next 20 years.

Emerging policies include a diverse mix of housing, a cycle friendly community, parking standards, protection of woodland, tree buffers, street lighting, encouraging businesses and a new community centre.

The goal is that the village will be allowed to grow sensitively, whilst still maintaining its feel as a village. The plan also intends to protect and enable access to the countryside, woods and green places in Horsford.

The plan will need to go to a referendum and, if successful, it will then become part of the statutory development plan for the area, with councils obligated to take it into consideration when deciding on planning applications.

The group is holding an event at the Church Room in Holt Road from 10am until 3pm on Saturday and another at the village hall, also in Holt Road, from 5pm until 8pm on Wednesday, May 24.

Residents are urged to drop in to comment on the ideas for the plan, with free cups of tea on offer.

Adrian Scott, chair of Horsford's neighbourhood plan group, urged the community to get involved. He said: 'Have your say on the future of Horsford, It's your plan for your future. We need your views to move forward.'

A draft plan will then be produced, which will go out for six weeks of consultation in October.

For more information or to comment online visit www.horsfordplan.wordpress.com