A SCHEME to turn a former quarry site in Brandon into a new housing estate is being tipped for approval today, despite traffic concerns.Developer JS Bloor wants to fill and level off an old chalk excavation site known as Mount Pit, off Thetford Road, to build 69 houses and flats.

A SCHEME to turn a former quarry site in Brandon into a new housing estate is being tipped for approval today, despite traffic concerns.

Developer JS Bloor wants to fill and level off an old chalk excavation site known as Mount Pit, off Thetford Road, to build 69 houses and flats.

Forest Heath dstrict councillors are being recommended to approve the plans, which would include 17 affordable housing units, at a planning meeting tonight.

Brandon Town Council and the residents of eight neighbouring properties have voiced safety and car parking concerns over increased traffic use on the already busy and gridlocked Thetford

Road.

However, in a report to councillors, planning officials say the scheme has already received outline permission, and the layout and design of the proposed dwellings, roads, public open space, and trees is “acceptable” and overcomes the problems identified when an application for 45 homes was refused in 2006.

If approved, around 18 lorry loads of material would be dumped at the former quarry every day over an 18-month period to raise the ground levels within the site by up to 15 metres.