PLANS for a former Suffolk airfield have been submitted to a council which could generate 3,000 jobs over the next 15 years.

Mid Suffolk District Council has received the final draft of Eye Airfield’s development brief which outlines the future prospects for the 135-hectare site based off the A140.

Within the brief it states that the site, which lies between Eye and Diss, has “considerable scope for further development”.

Engineering and energy firms as well as food companies have been earmarked to provide the 3,000 jobs.

A team of consultants, who were commissioned by Mid Suffolk to produce the brief, have highlighted the need to take advantage of the “agricultural and biochemical expertise” in the eastern region.

Local businesses, landowners, parish and town councils and local residents have all been involved in a series of consultations to capture people’s aspirations and views on the possible future development of the site.

Three newsletters were published from the consultations showing the progress of ideas towards the final brief.

It is hoped that part of Eye Airfield, which is currently undeveloped and in agricultural use, could be developed as a thriving employment area.

But some parish councils have raised concerns about the increased levels of traffic that this would mean, especially on the smaller roads around Eye.

To resolve this, a new access road from the A140 into the north of the airfield site could be constructed.

After the brief has been revised to take on board any comments raised by Mid Suffolk, a final six week consultation will take place later this year.