Controversial plans to build 1,800 new homes in North Walsham have been met with concern over whether the town will be able to cope with an expected population boom.
The North Walsham West development aims to ease north Norfolk’s housing crisis, but town leaders and locals fear the town lacks the healthcare facilities – such as enough access to doctors and dentist appointments - to support the vast expansion.
There is also scepticism as to whether developers will provide enough affordable homes for locals, after North Norfolk District Council (NNDC) had to rescue a provision for affordable housing in Holt earlier this year when planners went back on their original promise.
The site, on North Walsham's western outskirts, is approximately 108 hectares of what is now mostly agricultural land.
There are plans to build a new school, park and community centre, as well as seven hectares of retail and employment land.
There will also be a link road connecting Norwich Road to Cromer Road and the Laundry Loke industrial estate via Bradfield Road.
Councillor Lucy Shires, portfolio holder for finance, estates and property services at NNDC, who represents North Walsham West ward, said: “Residents are concerned that their needs will be forgotten in the developer’s pursuit of profitability”.
“We’re in a situation where people need homes, but our town doesn’t have the services needed to cope with growing population.
“Investment in our healthcare is desperately needed. There’s not enough space in the current buildings to create more appointments.”
She added that “homes for local people must be protected”.
Councillor Andrew Brown, NNDC’s portfolio holder for planning and enforcement, said the council wants 35pc of all new homes built in the district to be affordable homes.
But Mr Brown said he understood this development would only include around 15pc affordable homes.
“It’s not going to be a development started and finished in one hit,” Mr Brown said.
“We can’t as a planning authority guarantee certain provisions. We can’t build provisions into development briefs and proposals.”
A figure for how many new residents the plans could bring to North Walsham has not been made clear.
But the average household occupancy in the East of England is 2.3 people per home, so the scheme would add 4,140 more people if it follows that pattern. Around 12,800 already live in the town, according to the 2021 census.
Mr Brown said although the council has “little control” over developers, it has “learnt lessons from the Holt development”, which it “does not want to see a repeat of”.
Mr Brown said nutrient neutrality – rules designed to ensure new homes do not dangerously increase nutrient levels in local wetlands and waterways in protected areas – will not hold up the North Walsham West development.
“Neutrality isn’t an issue in North Walsham because sewage goes to Mundesley for treatment works and then out into the sea - not the River Wensum or Broads catchment,” he added.
Bob Wright, North Walsham’s mayor, said the project would represent “a huge change for the town”.
“The town has expanded over the last 50 years, and each generation has seen another spurt of growth,” he said.
“In an ideal world we wouldn’t want the town to expand as much, but it’s a good opportunity for the community as a whole to get the best development we can.
“It’s important we come to the right solution for the town.”
North Norfolk MP Duncan Baker said: “My primary concerns are that the right infrastructure is delivered alongside the development and woven into the plans are very high standards of environmental protection.
“With infrastructure, I want to see upfront delivery of adequate facilities for school places, medical facilities, such as doctors and dentists, and detailed traffic management plans to cope with significant increases in cars on our local roads.
“The sewage treatment and local electricity networks will also need upgrading. There must also be adequate employment opportunities.
"It is absolutely key to support both those who will one day will live in the new homes and those who are already residents of the town.”
There will be drop-events on the plans where people can find out more and voice their views at North Walsham Community Centre in New Road on Wednesday, September 13 from 3.30pm-7.30pm and at North Walsham Town Football Club in Greens Road on Thursday, September 19 from 3.30pm-7.30pm.
What do North Walsham locals think?
North Walsham locals and business owners have also had their say on the controversial North Walsham West development.
Debbie Hicks, manager of the Craft Bakery in Market Place, said the anticipated population growth in the town could lead to more trade for local businesses.
“It should be good for all local businesses,” she said.
“From a business point of view, we’d like to think that people from the new homes will come into town."
Market trader Richard Crowhurst said: “I’d like to think it will be good for business
Fellow traders David and Shirley Argent said the “more footfall it brings to the market, the better”.
North Walsham resident Iza Williams said she thinks it could be “good for the town”, but “the homes need to be affordable, especially for young people.”
However, Jill Webster said: “There’s just too many homes and not enough services”. Her friend Linda Daniels raised concerns that there “might not be enough work” for new residents.
Dawn and Ken Ramsden, from Coltishall, said the current traffic through the village from North Walsham is “hell”, and fear that it “could get even worse” with the new North Walsham link road.
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