Concern has been raised about the lack of gipsy and traveller site plans in a blueprint for the future growth of Norwich.

South Norfolk Councillors highlighted the issue yesterday whilst discussing the city's development plan document for new housing, employment, leisure and community developments for the next 15 years.

Fears have been raised that south Norfolk could be forced to provide more pitches for gipsies and travellers as part of the Greater Norwich Development Partnership if Norwich City Council does not provide any provision in its proposals.

The city council is currently consulting on its site allocation plans, which would provide an extra 3,400 new homes in Norwich up until 2026 in addition to the 4,500 homes with planning permission or identified in the local plan.

Officers and councillors welcomed the proposals at a South Norfolk Council cabinet meeting yesterday, but did question the lack of gipsy and traveller pitches.

Tim Horspole, planning and housing policy manager, said: 'This could have a knock-on effect for South Norfolk in not meeting their identified requirement and could put pressure on us to find our sites. We have offered to help, but we feel they [Norwich City Council] should be identifying sites.'

The Joint Core Strategy sets a target for 15 permanent gipsy and traveller pitches in Norwich between 2006 and 2011.