Pressure is to be heaped on council leaders to rule out plans for a new 'railway town' the size of Cromer in the heart of Norfolk.

More than 30 parish councils have joined forces to oppose the earmarking of farmland for up to 5,000 homes between the villages of North Elmham, Billingford and Bintree, north of Dereham.

That land was speculatively put forward by Bristol-based planning consultant Black Box Planning as part of Breckland Council's process to develop a new local plan - a blueprint for where new housing could be permitted.

Eastern Daily Press: Land where the new railway town could be builtLand where the new railway town could be built (Image: Denise Bradley)

Inclusion in the plan would increase the likelihood of a future planning application for the town, dubbed the 'railway village' or 'railway town' because it would be close to the route of the heritage Mid Norfolk Railway, getting permission.

 

Eastern Daily Press: The Mid Norfolk RailwayThe Mid Norfolk Railway (Image: Archant)

READ MORE: Parish councils vow to stop Norfolk 'railway town'

But the Campaign Against New Town group is fighting to convince the council not to include it.

Eastern Daily Press: Campaigners are to heap pressure on Breckland Council over the railway townCampaigners are to heap pressure on Breckland Council over the railway town (Image: John Hoskins)

Campaigners met Mid Norfolk MP George Freeman, plus local councillors Bill Borrett and Gordon Bambridge last week, to discuss ways to keep the pressure on Breckland Council.

Eastern Daily Press: George FreemanGeorge Freeman (Image: Richard Townshend Photography)

Conservative MP Mr Freeman said: "For too long, we have seen developments forced through by national housebuilders against the wishes of local people and the local council's plan.

"Breckland Council rightly threw the North Elmham New Town out last time it came up and made clear that they are focusing new housing on the A11 Norwich to Cambridge railway innovation corridor, not in the Wensum Valley.

"The parish councils and residents in the villages that would be affected have made very clear that they do not want to see the North Elmham New Town, disguised as a garden village, as an option in the local plan."

Eastern Daily Press: Campaigners are fighting to stop the land being included in Breckland Council's local planCampaigners are fighting to stop the land being included in Breckland Council's local plan (Image: Campaign Against New Town)

It is likely to take months for the council to decide whether or not to include the land in the local plan.

Campaigners aim to press the council's planning department over the process and for early consultation with the public about specific sites, so they can make their objections clear.