Pelham Homes has taken the first step in its plans to create a massive new housing corridor along the A11 in NorfolkThe first signs of the massive housing developments planned for Norfolk have emerged with proposals for more than 12,000 new homes along the A11 corridor.

Swathes of greenfield land would be used to accommodate 2,000 to 3,000 homes in Wymondham and a further 9,000 homes in Thetford over the next 25 years

Planner Barton Willmore, acting on behalf of developer Pelham Homes, has taken the first steps towards submitting a planning application to build as many as 3118 homes on farmland land south of Wymondham.

The company has been told by South Norfolk Council that because the development “is likely to have a significant impact” it will need to submit an environmental impact assessment.

South Norfolk Tory MP Richard Bacon said: “There is no doubt we need more houses. But I seriously question putting large numbers of houses in one place. What we need is small numbers of houses in a large number of places to help our villages and help the rural economy.

Barton Willmore has earmarked an area measuring a total of 192.5 hectares, of which 167.64 hectares will make up the core development.

The firm has told the council that for the eastern aspect of the development it anticipates building 1163 homes at a density of 30 dwellings per hectare (dph) or 1744 dwellings at a density of 45dph.

Similarly, the company says the western phase could accommodate 878 dwellings.

Last month prime minister Gordon Brown announced three million homes would be built across the country by 2020 and plans for more than 500,000 new homes for the eastern region have already been outlined.