Authorities are tipped to approve plans to expand Wayland Prison to house an extra 300 inmates and create about 100 jobs.Breckland Council is recommended to approve proposals for the five two-storey prison blocks on the sports pitch at the jail based at Griston, near Watton, bringing its population up to 1,000.

Authorities are tipped to approve plans to expand Wayland Prison to house an extra 300 inmates and create about 100 jobs.

Breckland Council is being recommended to approve proposals for the five two-storey prison blocks on the sports pitch at the jail based at Griston, near Watton, bringing its population up to 1,000.

The proposals have been submitted by the government's National Offenders Management Body as part of its drive to tackle prison overcrowding nationwide and provide space for 10,000 more inmates.

Breckland principal planning officer Nick Moys said that the new blocks for category C prisoners would be mostly screened from neighbouring properties and would not detract from the rural area.

The expansion is expected to generate about 103 extra car journeys a day, bringing the total number of trips to the prison to 215 a day

But the council is negotiating with the developers to provide a cycle path between Watton and Griston.

The plans will be discussed by Breckland Council at its development control committee meeting on Monday, May 21, at 9.30am at its offices in Dereham.