Residents have raised concerns that plans to build up to 150 homes alongside the Tiffey Valley in Wymondham could obscure picturesque views of one of the town's most iconic features.

Some visiting a public exhibition this afternoon spoke of their worry that proposals by The Fairfield Partnership for land off Chapel Lane would harm the area of natural beauty and its uninterrupted views of Wymondham Abbey.

Roger Noble, who lives in Chapel Lane, said: 'We have enough brown sites in Wymondham without spoiling one of the loveliest in the town. It's not just for people who live there but people coming in from Wicklewood and Hingham. The amount of people that stop to paint or stop with children to see the sheep. Now they will look across rooftops.'

The proposals include the construction of up to 150 homes on about 4.5ha (about 11 acres) with a third of those being designated as affordable homes. Another 10ha (about 25 acres) would be developed as a country park, including meadows and woodland, and gifted to the community. An outline planning application for the site is expected next year.

Other concerns voiced at the exhibition, held at the Fairland United Reformed Church, included increased traffic and the site's potential to flood.

But representatives from The Fairfield Partnership said they had assessed the area to ensure it was suitable for development, believed it was within walking distance of the town centre, and the layout would be planned to try and protect the treasured views.

Stephen Biart, strategic land director, said: 'The country park will be offered to the town council. If they decided they do not have the money to manage it then other community bodies could adopt it and we could put up some money to help.'

The exhibition will continue tomorrow between 4pm and 8pm.