If the proposal succeeds, some 50 staff would be made redundant at the newspaper printer, which would move from a multiple shift pattern to a single night shift, built around four daily titles, while the printing of some of its weekly titles - predominantly from London and the Home Counties - would be outsourced.

Keith Morris, corporate communications manager at Archant, said the company did not want to comment on who the contract could go to.

Archant prints four daily and 60 weekly titles at the site.

Unite representatives have held initial discussions with the company to consider the proposals.

Unite regional officer Mark Walker said: "We are deeply concerned with the devastating effect that any redundancies would have on our members, their families and the local community.

"Unite has now entered into a period of collective consultation with Archant Print. Our aim, as always, is to safeguard jobs and avoid the need for compulsory redundancies."

Archant Print managing director Nick Schiller said: "We keep costs constantly under review and the very substantial 20% increase in the cost of newsprint and ink in 2011 has further emphasised this need.

"We are proposing to move to printing on a single night shift in Norwich, built around our four daily titles."

The company said the printing of titles from across Norfolk and Suffolk would remain in Norwich and "would not be affected" by the proposed move.  

In September 2009, Archant Print completed an £8m investment in new press and mailing kit and claimed it was the largest print centre in the UK dedicated to regional newspapers.