Plans for a new road which could serve thousands of new homes and ease traffic in a Norfolk village are to put to public consultation. 

The new road will serve the South East King's Lynn Growth Area, known locally as the West Winch Growth Area, which is expected to see up to 4,000 new homes built over the next two decades.

A public consultation for the plans opens today (Monday, November 14), and runs until January 8, with a planning application for the scheme expected next year.

The road’s route connects the A10 to the A47 by a new 1.5-mile road, starting to the south of Gravelhill Lane in West Winch and joining the A47 before it reaches the Hardwick Junction.

The road joins the A47 via a new signalised roundabout and dedicated free-flow slip road.

The scheme would see the dualling of the A47 between Hardwick and the new road, while changes will be made to the Hardwick Interchange to account for the extra housing traffic and the rerouted A10.

David Allfrey, assistant director for infrastructure delivery at Norfolk County Council, said: "The road is an essential part of the wider plans to create new housing in the area and resolve traffic issues on the existing A10.

"We are therefore working closely with the borough council and local partners to deliver this vital piece of infrastructure as soon as possible.

"This consultation will provide everyone with more detail about the proposed scheme which would see the A10 rerouted as it approaches King’s Lynn.

"This is an important opportunity for us to receive local input before we finalise and submit the planning application next year.

"I would encourage as many people as possible to look through the proposals and give us their feedback."

The West Winch Housing Access Road will provide an alternative route around the village, with traffic flows through West Winch expected to fall by 55-62pc, compared to 2018 levels.

The proposals can be viewed online at www.norfolk.gov.uk/WestWinchA10, while three exhibition events will be held at West Winch Primary School on November 23 and January 4 between 4pm-9pm, and at the Village Meeting Place in North Runcton on December 10 between 10am-4pm.