Developers Norwich Apex Ltd's plans for a data centre near Keswick are due to be lodged with South Norfolk Council in the coming weeks - but the proposed scheme has already triggered anger, with a petition signed by almost 12,000 people.

The area where the data centre could be built, opposite the Harford Bridge Tesco (Image: Newsquest)

Some social media commentators have said the decision to grant permission for the centre, off Ipswich Road, opposite Tesco Harford Bridge, is a foregone conclusion, with insinuations of "brown envelopes" and "bribes".

Such claims have infuriated planning officials, who say decisions on that - and all major schemes - go through a planning system where policies and frameworks are used to carefully formulate officer recommendations.

Elected councillors on planning committees then decide whether or not to agree with them when it comes to granting permission.

Phil Courtier (Image: Broadland District Council)

Phil Courtier, who heads the planning department........

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