MP fails to halt 1,500-home scheme progressing

50 minutes ago

Ben RobinsonLocal Democracy reporter

News image — Marriott's Park is being delivered by three separate developers, Barrett David Wilson Homes, Norfolk Homes and Abel Homes

Liz Lake Associates An architect's drawing of the designs for the homes, showing four detached properties in a row, with red and cream-coloured bricks and green space in front — Marriott's Park is being delivered by three separate developers, Barrett David Wilson Homes, Norfolk Homes and Abel Homes

The first phases of a 1,530-home estate have been approved - despite an MP joining locals in objecting over fears about increased traffic on surrounding roads.

Broadland District Council has approved the first tranche of 405 homes at the Marriott's Park estate in Thorpe Marriott, on the outskirts of Norwich, at a meeting on Wednesday.

Barratt David Wilson Homes will be responsible for building 279 homes on land next to Reepham Road, while Norfolk developer Abel Homes will construct 126 homes off Fir Covert Road.

Road improvements will be made as part of the project. But the area's Conservative MP, Jerome Mayhew, said the housing was reliant on the now-failed Norwich Western Link plan.

Broadland District Council An artist's impression of what the estate could look like, showing a girl throwing a football to a boy on grassland next to houses — An artist's impression of what the estate could look like

There had been plans to build a new road, known as the Norwich Western Link, to help alleviate traffic in the area but this project was scrapped because of concerns about its impact on rare bats.

Mayhew, the Conservative MP for Broadland, wrote to the council before the meeting to object, arguing it shouldn't go ahead without this infrastructure coming forward.

Locals also expressed their concerns at the meeting.

Frank Hughes, who has lived in the area for 28 years, told councillors: "As a resident, I think it will be detrimental to individuals in Taverham.

"My concern is we have a great development opportunity, but we don't have the infrastructure."

Jo Copplestone, Conservative councillor for Coltishall, agreed there were issues.

She said: "I am very aware the roads going through from the Fakenham Road to the A47 are not fit for purpose."

Google Maps A Google Maps aerial image with shaded areas in red over farmland and housing to the south — A map showing where the 1,530 homes will be built in Taverham, shaded in red

But council officials sought to reassure locals that the highway network was sufficient without the new road.

An officer said: "The conclusion that the local highway network was sufficient, with the off-site highway works proposed, was not made on the basis that the Western Link road would be delivered as there was no certainty that the Western Link road would be delivered.

"As such the outline permission does not require completion of the Norwich Western Link."

The scheme was approved and workers could move on to the site next month to begin building two new roundabouts.

A representative for Abel Homes said it hoped the first homes would be occupied by the middle of next year.

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