A major housing boom just outside Norwich will push vital services to the brink, senior councillors have warned.
Villages near the city, including Brundall, Blofield, Postwick and Hemblington, are set to get more than 600 new homes as part of the Greater Norwich Local Plan (GNLP).
But Andrew Proctor, who represents Blofield and Brundall at Norfolk County Council, said that there is a limit to how much expansion these areas can take and that they are already at “saturation point”.
He said: "I am happy to see development, but only those in the GNLP. Enough is enough and realistically these small villages can't expand any further.
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"It is fundamental we have the infrastructure to cope.
"You can be waiting two to three weeks for an appointment at a doctor's surgery. It's all very well building new NHS practices but you then need the staff to run them.
"No one can deny we need more housing but it has to be in the right place at the right time."
Steps to address fears over a lack of infrastructure have been taken with plans approved for a 420-place school in Blofield - which is expecting to have 316 new homes by 2038.
In Brundall and Postwick however - an area bracing itself for almost 200 homes as part of the GNLP - a shortage of "adequate infrastructure" has left existing health and education services struggling to cope with demand.
"Many residents in the Brundall ward feel that the area has had to absorb a lot of new housing," said councillor Eleanor Laming, who represents the area at Broadland District Council.
"Some of which has yet to be built.
"Brundall village has had planning permission agreed for more houses than were originally allocated in the local plan.”
The decision to approve the controversial 170-home development came despite a petition signed by 750 locals which argued the area would be unable to cope with the additional homes.
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The project was initially rejected by Broadland District Council, but planning inspector Zoe Raygen disagreed and overturned the council’s decision in 2020.
Ms Laming added: "New housing needs to be paired with adequate infrastructure and service provision but often this comes at a later date," added Ms Laming.
"Housing growth has an impact on health and education services which can struggle to cope.
"Residents understand there is a need for more housing but we primarily need starter homes and affordable housing.
"Brundall and Postwick are rural villages and developments have been mainly on greenfield land, reducing land available for wildlife, putting pressure on small rural roads and transport systems, potentially increasing flood risk and increasing light pollution.
"They are attractive rural villages on the edge of Norwich and growth has changed their character and rural nature."
What is the Greater Norwich Local Plan?
The Greater Norwich Local Plan (GNLP) could see almost 50,000 new homes built across Norwich, South Norfolk and Broadland by 2038.
Between 2018 and 2038, it will provide around 45,000 new homes and 33,000 jobs across both urban and rural areas.
Under the scheme 33pc of new homes will consist of affordable housing.
It includes thousands of homes allocated for towns including Trowse, Rackheath, Sprowston and Wymondham.
Around 9,000 of these homes have already been built and with both the Tories and Labour campaigning on housebuilding kick-starting the economy ahead of the next election, such plans look likely to be bolstered by political support in the years ahead.
The initiative - which has been publicly consulted on at regular stages - is expected to be adopted by local authorities in early 2024.
This is subject to approval from the government's Planning Inspectorate.
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