The expansion dreams of a north Norfolk football club could rest upon the approval of a scheme to develop 250 new homes in Aylsham.

The 40-acre site identified for the development is on land to the west of St Michael's Hospital, bordered to the north by Marriott's Way, to the west by Woodgate Farmhouse and to the south by Cawston Road.

The land in question is owned by a local farming family, the Youngs, who are 'gifting' 20 acres to be used by Aylsham Football club and other community organisations, and also �500,000 to kick-start the development of facilities there, but that can only happen if a plan for 250 homes on the rest of the land is given the go-ahead.

The plans, which also include a private water treatment plant to deal with the issue of foul and surface water drainage, are set to be submitted to Broadland District Council within the next few days.

The proposals were first announced last year, and at a public meeting to discuss them in August 2009, concerns were raised about the impact housing growth would have on the town and also road safety issues.

Mark Nolan, director of architects' firm Chaplin Farrant, which is designing the scheme, said: 'As a result of that meeting, the scheme has significantly evolved and issues such as deliverability and kick-starting the football development have been addressed.'

The scheme would provide a home for the successful town club's 19 teams and allow for expansion.

A spokesman for Aylsham Football Club, said: 'This would be a community facility for use by the cricket club as well as others, so it will ensure it is used all year round.'

Nick Youngs, who owns the land with his brother William, said: 'We are very much a sporting family and we think Aylsham deserves a great sporting facility like this.'

n A public exhibition was held at Aylsham Town Hall on Tuesday looking at separate plans for 300 new homes to be built on 90 acres of meadows between Aylsham High School and the bypass drawn up by developers Welbeck Strategic Land.