A vision for 165 new homes on the site of a former poultry factory and adjoining fields has been given the go-ahead, despite fears over extra pressure on roads and services.

Aberdeen-based Raemoir Properties is planning to build the new estate on the former Grampian Country Foods site in Buckenham Road, Attleborough and nearby land.

Breckland Council gave outline planning approval for the project, which will include main access points off Buckenham Road and Whitehouse Lane, as well as four smaller access roads off Whitehouse Lane.

The application was made in May 2015 and many of the objections submitted to the council date back more than 18 months.

One, from Paul Grauwiler, opposed the extra traffic it would mean for Whitehouse Lane.

It said: 'It should be made into a quiet lane and traffic reduced.'

In another letter, Charles Aghabi said he was concerned about the pressure the extra residents would place on services.

He also raised concerns about the ditches in Whitehouse Lane, which can flood.

He said: 'Where will this water go?'

He added: 'How do the roads cope with these cars? How does the school system cope with these children?

'How does the doctor manage these people? You cannot get an appointment now.'

Raemoir Properties had not responded to requests to comment by time by of going to press.

A landscape and visual assessment prepared for the applicants, said: 'The site is generally seen against this existing semi-industrial backdrop, and new development has the potential to create an enhanced new visual edge to the town.'

Grampian closed its loss-making plant in the town in 2008, at a cost of 300 jobs.

The closure was blamed, in part, on the fall in demand for breaded poultry products.

The council's approval was given alongside a list of 31 conditions, including that bird and bat boxes be installed, that trees and hedgerows along the boundaries of the site be kept and that flood and contamination assessments be carried out.

What do you think of the plans? Email your views to reporter Stuart Anderson at stuart.anderson@archant.co.uk