A parish council is set to recruit a planning specialist in a bid to fight plans for 180 new homes on a greenfield site.

Residents in Mulbarton have started a campaign to fight proposals, which they fear will overstretch local services and exacerbate traffic and flooding problems.

Mulbarton Parish Council held a public meeting on Monday night to discuss the plans by Welbeck Strategic Land for land off Long Lane.

Councillors have also agreed to employ a planning professional in their opposition to the scheme, which they say is too much for a village that was only earmarked for between 20 and 40 new homes up until 2026.

Peter Leigh, chairman of Mulbarton Parish Council, said more than 40 villagers attended Monday's meeting and so far 215 households, representing nearly 500 people, have signed a leaflet backing the council's opposition to the homes plans.

Objectors to the latest expansion plans for Mulbarton say that Long Lane is too narrow to accommodate 180 homes and the scheme is outside the development boundary. They add that there are already flooding problems at the junction of The Rosery, Cuckoofield Lane and Long Lane junction.

Mr Leigh added that a new Hopkins Homes housing development in Mulbarton was only 88pc full.

'There is not the demand for all these houses and it is only because South Norfolk has got this five year land supply issue. People understand that we are trying to fight it, but do not have a great deal of confidence that it will cut much mustard with South Norfolk Council officers and the planning committee. It is outside the village development boundary and it is a greenfield site and we are not going to give up,' he said.

People have until February 20 to comment on the outline planning application.

In an application submitted to South Norfolk Council, agent Ed Hanson, of Barton Willmore, said the proposals would help meet a five year land supply shortage identified by the Greater Norwich Development Partnership. He added that Mulbarton was classed as a 'service village' and was a 'sustainable' location to accommodate more growth.