There is no set rule on what constitutes a village and what constitutes a town.

Many point to the size of the population, as well as infrastructure such as transport links and shops.

Using those factors as guidance, here are five villages that could soon become towns.

Brundall could soon become a town (Image: Sonya Duncan)

Brundall is situated on the banks of the River Yare and is part of the Greater Norwich fringe.

Plans for a 170-home development in the village first emerged more than five years ago and have been strongly opposed by locals since.

Brundall already has several shops, a medical centre, a primary school, and a range of hospitality businesses.

Its location - eight miles east of Norwich, with easy access to the A47 and the Norfolk Broads -makes it an attractive proposition for commuter housing, and that demand is the primary driver of ongoing development pressure.

Rackheath, one of Norfolk's fastest growing villages (Image: Mike Page)

In February 2026, Broadland District Council's planning committee unanimously approved Taylor Wimpey's proposal for 3,850 new homes on the site of a former Second World War US airbase south of Stonehouse Road in Rackheath.

The scheme is one of the largest residential approvals in Norfolk's history and will increase the village's population more than fivefold, from around 2,000 to more than 11,000.

Approved plans include two primary schools, a secondary school, a leisure centre, and two shopping precincts.

The development will effectively create a continuous urban area by linking Rackheath with the neighbouring village of Salhouse.

Hethersett has a growing population and strong transport links (Image: Sonya Duncan)

The Hethersett North allocation development, which has taken shape over the last decade, has transformed the village's size.

The development saw a new school built and replace the former Woodside school on Priory Lane.

Just shy of 1,400 new dwellings have been brought to the village as a result.

With three schools and strong bus links to the city and the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, it is an attractive location for people to move to.

It is also close to both of Norfolk's major roads, the A11 and the A47.

A 65-house estate is being built on the edge of Martham (Image: Lanpro)

Martham is approximately 10 miles north-west of Great Yarmouth and has seen a succession of housing approvals that locals warn are fundamentally changing its character.

In September 2024, two housing schemes that would increase the size of the village by more than a quarter were unanimously approved by Great Yarmouth Borough Council.

Then, in January 2025, a further 50 homes were approved.

By March 2026, a 65-home estate off Staithe Road - developed by Crocus Homes Ltd as an all-affordable scheme - was being amended due to infrastructure requirements from UK Power Networks.

Locals have warned that the scale of development risked transforming the village into a town, with concerns focused on the capacity of medical facilities and schools to accommodate the growing population.

Mulbarton is another village which could soon become a town (Image: Newsquest)

Mulbarton is already one of the largest villages in south Norfolk, with a population in excess of 3,500people and almost 1,500 dwellings.

It is well served by local education, sports and community facilities, and has good transport links to Norwich.

Developer Hopkins Homes has been actively promoting a further site east of Bluebell Road and north of The Rosery.

As the population continues to climb and built-up area expands to meet housing demand, Mulbarton is increasingly acquiring the service base and density more associated with a small town

© Norwich Evening News