Broadland Council approves 250 new homes in Aylsham

Broadland Council has approved proposals for the major development off Norwich Road in Aylsham.

The scheme, which also includes a 90-room care home, was met with objections from locals who fear an increased strain on their healthcare services.

Dr Nazia Ahmed, a GP in the town, warned existing patients would "suffer" as the surgery won't be able to withstand this pressure. 

Aylsham in Norfolk (Image: Mike Page) The application was lodged with the council by developers Norfolk Homes and Saffron Homes, and set out plans for a development across more than 30 acres of farmland.

This will include 252 new houses, a care home, transport hub and public open space.  

Significant concerns have been raised by locals about how the scheme would have ab impact on health services in the area.

The development site in Aylsham (Image: Google Maps)

While the developers have offered £275,000 to support improvements to local healthcare and address these fears, GPs at the Market Surgery say this will not remedy the situation. 

Dr Nazia Ahmed, speaking at a meeting this week, said: "While I fully accept that people have got to live somewhere, the town has grown over the years and the medical facilities can't cope.

"The surgery can't physically get any bigger and we have nowhere at all to put hundreds of new patients.

"The people of Aylsham will suffer because of this."

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The Market Surgery in Norwich Road (Image: Google Maps) Despite these pleas, the proposals were approved by Broadland Council's planning committee.

A spokesman for the developers said: "While we acknowledge the concerns about healthcare, these are common worries about all such developments in every location.

"It is up to the NHS to plan strategically to meet that demand as it arises."

Aylsham has a population of around 9,000 which could increase by around 5pc if all of the new homes have two new occupants.

Developer Hopkins Homes is also hoping to build 242 properties in the town, on land off Burgh Road, meaning the local population could grow even more in the coming years.