The delivery of a 5,000 home development on the outskirts of Thetford will be accelerated after Breckland Council received a £9.9m funding boost.

Eastern Daily Press: Land in Thetford where 5,000 homes will be built. Picture: Sonya DuncanLand in Thetford where 5,000 homes will be built. Picture: Sonya Duncan (Image: Archant Norfolk Photographic © 2013)

The money was given by the government for the upfront reinforcement of power supplies and drinkable water for the Thetford Sustainable Urban Extension (SUE).

Situated to the north of the town, the 771 hectare development - known as KingsFleet - will also include three primary schools, employment land, open spaces and commercial centres.

Breckland councillor and Greater Thetford Development Partnership chairman Sam Chapman-Allen said: “I am absolutely ecstatic about the announcement. It is really exciting news for Thetford.

“Thetford has an opportunity to benchmark itself for the future. It is a massive amount of money and has given the opportunity to move forward with unlocking the homes for not only those in Thetford but for those wanting to move to Thetford.”

Eastern Daily Press: Breckland district councillor Sam Chapman-Allen. Picture: Breckland CouncilBreckland district councillor Sam Chapman-Allen. Picture: Breckland Council (Image: Archant)

He added: “The secondary effect is the wider economic benefits with the possibility employment sites will be able to come online with the power as well.”

A total of 133 council-led projects across the country were selected as winning bids for a share of £866m government cash from the Housing Infrastructure Fund.

MORE - £12m boost for revamp of Norwich’s Anglia Square and £9.9m injection for 5,000 home scheme at Thetford

Eastern Daily Press: Elizabeth Truss MP. Picture: Ian BurtElizabeth Truss MP. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant)

Hopkins Homes will deliver the first phase of KingsFleet which will include 450 homes.

The first parcel will include 343 homes, 51 affordable, which will be a mix of one and two bed apartments and two to four bedroom homes.

There will be open spaces, a play area, and a neighbourhood centre which will include a small food store, two retail shop units, a beat base for Norfolk police and a recycling area.

Eastern Daily Press: Land in Thetford where 5,000 homes will be built. Picture: Sonya DuncanLand in Thetford where 5,000 homes will be built. Picture: Sonya Duncan (Image: Archant Norfolk Photographic © 2013)

James Buxton, executive chairman at Pigeon Investment Management, the master developer, said: “The funding provided by the agency through its Housing Infrastructure Fund will accelerate the delivery of much needed housing on the edge of the town.

“The first phase of housing, to be built by Hopkins Homes, will be for sale in spring next year”

The bid for the SUE was a joint application from Breckland Council, Norfolk County Council, New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership and Pigeon.

MP for south west Norfolk Elizabeth Truss said: “This is great news for Thetford, boosting the local economy and driving forward this exciting development for the town.

“I supported the council’s bid last year for infrastructure money and I am delighted that the Secretary of State listened to the case made by me and councillors.”

Thetford Enterprise Park

Mike Brown, Greater Thetford Development Parnership and Thetford Business Forum member, said he hoped the Thetford Enterprise Park (TEP) would benefit.

The TEP is planned to be located on land between Mundford Road and the A11, close to the SUE.

He said he was “delighted” with the funding and hoped the TEP and other employment sites could gain from the power supply - which had been an issue for the site.

“The second issue on the TEP was water and there are two aspects, supply and drainage,” he said.

“I would urge the councillors and those other interested parties to treat both of those as one and it may be that we could leverage on this grant to do water power and drainage and get this TEP going.

“We are pleased that this funding goes through and it is essential employment land is open up in parallel with the housing - we do not want to be a dormant town.”