North Norfolk District Council has earmarked Tunstead, which is a village in between North Walsham and Norwich, for 42 new homes to be built under the adopted local plan.

The plan, which will run until 2040, allocates provision for thousands of new homes to different towns and villages, which will be considered when developers apply for planning permission.

But this has sparked several fears for those living in the village, as well as a complaint from Tunstead and Sco-Ruston Parish Council to the Planning Inspectorate - the government department that presides over planning matters.

The parish council raised their concerns about the indicative number of homes, as well as the district council changing the village's classification from "countryside" to "small growth village" despite the lack of services.

St Marys Church in Tunstead is one of the few services the village has. (Image: Archant)

Rob Hetherington, parish council vice chairman, said: "Our services have stayed the same - if not worsened - but the designation has changed.

"There is no sensible rationale in that. We don't have the services to cope with 42 homes.

"We need development that is right for our village."

He added that North Norfolk District Council had made this decision without going to the village and "did not take much notice as to what the council said."

The Horse and Groom in Tunstead (Image: Newsquest)

Tunstead is a sprawling village of about 420 homes and just over 700 residents, with a primary school, church, village hall and the Horse and Groom pub which is now set to reopen.

Parish councillors had discussed seeking a judicial review but after finding out that it could potentially cost £30,000, it was agreed to lodge a complaint with the Planning Inspectorate instead.

Mr Hetherington added that the council is not expecting the adopted plan to be changed but said he is waiting for advice from the inspector about how to move forward.

The parish council is also now developing the Tunstead Neighbourhood Plan which can help guide where development should go in the village and what the village needs are, but not stop the growth.

A NNDC spokeswoman has said that council officers met with the parish council in January to discuss their concerns and highlighted that the neighbourhood plan should be their "main focus moving forwards".

She added: "Council officers have taken every opportunity to fully explain the approach to the identification of small growth villages in the local plan to the parish council.

"If the parish council wish to complain to the Planning Inspectorate, that is their prerogative.

"An indicative housing requirement has been set of 42 to be delivered in accordance with Local Plan policy SS1 (3) and no allocations have been made in Tunstead through the local plan."

© Eastern Daily Press