A picturesque west Suffolk village is being asked to take “more than its fair share” of new homes, it has been claimed.

Concept plans for 80 new homes on the outskirts of Long Melford are set to be revealed this week.

Hopkins Homes is working on the proposal for a new development on land south of Bull Lane in Long Melford.

It is one of three significant housing applications currently being considered, which combined could result in more than 200 new homes in the village. District councillor John Nunn believes this is too many for Melford to accommodate.

Initial layouts and designs for the Bull Lane site, which could include 28 affordable homes and 53 to be sold on the open market, will go on public display tomorrow.

In July, Southsea Properties gained outline planning permission to build 77 homes north of Ropers Lane on Rodbridge Hill, to the south of the village.

In addition a new proposal for 44 homes on a controversial development site in the heart of the village - the former Fleetwood Caravans factory site - has gained the support of local councillors. The application submitted by property company SB2 Living, includes 13 sheltered units and a mix of two, three and four-bed houses and bungalows.

Long Melford has been identified in Babergh’s local plan as a core village for growth and development.

The latest proposal, which is offering the district council’s required 35% affordable housing, would bring the total of planned new homes in Long Melford up to around 200.

Parish and district councillor John Nunn said: “If we do get the 28 affordable homes, then that would be great.

“However overall, what with the three potential sites up for development at the moment, we are looking at up to 250 new homes in the village.

“In addition, less than a mile away the Chilton Woods development could have another 1,200 new homes.

“It seems that Long Melford is being asked to take more than its fair share and would be shouldering too much of the burden of the Government’s new homes policy.”

Although traffic would not have to go through Long Melford to get to the site, it would have to gain access via the A134 bypass, which Mr Nunn said was cause for concern.

He added: “We have experienced a lot of accidents including fatalities over the years at the A134 junction with Bull Lane and this development would lead to a big increase in traffic using the junction.

“I would hope that if this plan goes through, we would get a roundabout at that junction or some kind of traffic control.”

The public exhibition for the plans is at Long Melford Royal British Legion in Cordell Road from 4-8pm on Thursday.

A spokesman for Hopkins Homes said: “We are now keen to share these plans with the local community and to hear their feedback before we continue our work in developing the proposals further and submit a planning application later this year or early in 2016.”