by DAN GRIMMER
Tuesday, 18 January, 2011
17:02 PM
A blueprint which will decide where almost 3,500 homes could be built in Norwich will move closer to being adopted this week, but people across the city have been asked to say whether they agree with where development is planned.
Norwich City Council is drawing up a framework which allocates scores of sites for future house building and possible business locations which would create new jobs.
That provides a glimpse into what the city could look like a decade from now, with the major sites shortlisted for housing including Three Score in Bowthorpe, where at least 1,200 new homes could be permitted, Norwich Community Hospital, off Bowthorpe Road, where some 120 homes could be built, at least 120 homes at Havers Road in Mile Cross and 150 homes at the Heigham Water Treatment Works off Waterworks Road.
The Deal Ground site at Whitlingham is also on the shortlist for some 600 homes, along with offices and shops.
Entrepreneur Andre Serruys recently announced he was keen to develop that site, unveiling proposals for a £100m scheme complete with marina, while another site he owns, the former Lakenham Sports and Leisure Centre, which he also wants to develop, is also on the list for around 85 homes.
The sites have all been put forward after developers, agents, community groups and the public were invited, in 2009, to suggest sites where houses could be built, or businesses based.
Following consultation between November 2009 and February last year, which yielded about 400 responses, those suggestions have been whittled down to 80 sites for what is known as the Site Allocations plan.
Steve Morphew, leader of Norwich City Council, said: “This is a bit of future gazing and what we are looking at is options for the way the city looks and how it will develop over time.
“Each of these suggested sites can be seen as smaller pieces of a bigger jigsaw and this is an opportunity for the city and the city council to see how all the pieces fit together.
“Some of the sites are quite small, but some, such as Three Score and St Stephen’s, are massive projects and they all make up the fabric of the city.”
Not all of the sites originally put forward have made it onto the final shortlist.
One of the suggested sites which has been rejected includes land at Eaton Golf Club. The club suggested that part of the club’s site could be used for housing, but officers were concerned about the loss of green space.
Also ruled out are four housing schemes close to Norwich Cathedral, which had been proposed by the cathedral and LSI Architects.
Officers have rejected those, at Gooseberry Gardens, between Hooks Walk and Ferry Lane and on land at the back of The Close, saying they would affect the setting and views of the cathedral and would not fit into an area with listed buildings.
Council officers stress including a site in the document does not mean the development will happen and that planning permission would still need to be obtained before schemes went ahead.
But a report which will come before the city council cabinet tomorrow also states: “However, it does provide an indication that the council is favouring the development of the site and it may be a material consideration to the determination of planning applications.”
To see the full list of sites visit www.norwich.gov.uk/webapps/atoz/service_page.asp?id=1708
Sign in to have your say
4
comments
-
Will these houses built with the Code for Sustainable Housing in mind? doubt it.
How many percent of the housing will be affordable housing? 22%, 10%? None?
Its no godd talking about unlaid eggs Mr. Morphew, btw. we thought you are going.Diesel the site needs a proper archeological dig, its right next the river and was inhabited for a good few hundred years, dare I say thousand.
Its also partial to a special insurance clause which stipulates that all properties have to be build 6ft. above the highest tide mark, thats why the houses on the riverside have empty spaces on the groundfloor.Add your view |
Report this commentTuesday, January 18, 2011
<!–
-
$comment.rating
Average Rating
–>
-
In response to john norton’s comment, I hardly think that the ‘well-heeled’ will be jostling to live in Three Score and with 3,500 new homes there will be more than enough to go around. And who would you actually class as ‘local people’ hmm?
Add your view |
Report this commentTuesday, January 18, 2011
<!–
-
$comment.rating
Average Rating
–>
-
Yes it all looks fine and dandy doesn’t it but just how many of these homes will be for local people? My guess is very few. I can see the properties on the deal ground with the marinas etc, ending up being nothing more than holiday homes for the well-heeled with the rest bringing more and more people from other areas of the country putting even more stress on an already creaking infrastructure.
No more houses should be built unless there is guarantees that at least two thirds are for local people and even then not until our infrastructure has been vastly improved.
Just why is it when new housing is mentioned our local councils salivate at the very thought?Add your view |
Report this commentTuesday, January 18, 2011
<!–
-
$comment.rating
Average Rating
–>
-
What about the massive piece of derelict land off King Street
Add your view |
Report this commentTuesday, January 18, 2011
<!–
-
$comment.rating
Average Rating
–>
Open all references in tabs: [1 – 4]