Town councillors have backed calls by residents to reject plans to build 400 new homes on the outskirts of Wymondham.About 50 people gathered for a meeting of Wymondham Town Council's planning, lighting and highways committee on Tuesday to voice their fears about the proposed development put forward by London-based Barton Willmore on behalf of a small consortium of landowners.

TOWN councillors have backed calls by residents to reject plans to build 400 new homes on the outskirts of Wymondham.

About 50 people gathered for a meeting of Wymondham Town Council's planning, lighting and highways committee on Tuesday to voice their fears about the proposed development put forward by London-based Barton Willmore on behalf of a small consortium of landowners.

The plans, which include the construction of 400 new houses and flats on a 17.3ha site at Carpenters Farm, Norwich Common, come after the planning consultant said earlier this year that it intends to build a 3,000 home urban extension on the northern edge of Wymondham over the next 20 years.

Those who spoke at the meeting said the proposals would do nothing to strengthen the town - only the bank balances of the applicants.

One resident said: 'It will be like a cancer on the side of Wymondham. It doesn't strengthen - it's a great bulge on the side.'

Another added: 'The infrastructure problem created by 3,000 houses is an enormous one and with the current economic climate how can it be guaranteed that there will be the money around for them to be able to build? It just seems a rather senseless proposal.'

Some claimed subsequent traffic congestion would be 'intolerable', others worried about the development's impact on the water supply, sewage system and schools, while another thought businesses would be 'killed-off' as those living to the north of Wymondham would be encouraged to shop in Norwich.

Their concerns were echoed by the committee members who voted unanimously to oppose the plans. The town council's views will now be forwarded to South Norfolk Council which will make the final decision on whether the proposal receives the green light.

Speaking on behalf of action group Vision: Our Wymondham (VOW), Clive Walker told the meeting: 'When we look at this particular development, located in green fields one and a half miles away from the centre of Wymondham, we cannot see how it will help to regenerate the town centre but instead are deeply concerned that it will bring forward the day when Wymondham becomes a part of greater Norwich rather than a remaining a beautiful market town in its own right.'

Wymondham district councillor Martin Wynne said: 'It is clearly not for the benefit of the town as a whole or its residents but for the financial gain of a very limited number of landowners and Barton Willmore who are out to make a substantial amount of money.'

He also accused the company of trying to push through the plans before the outcome of the area's Local Development Framework (LDF) through fear that land in other parts of Wymondham outside its control may be approved for future development instead.

Fellow Wymondham district councillor Daniel Cox, who is also leader of Norfolk County Council, also urged for the plans to be thrown-out.