Long Stratton bypass

Plans for a long-awaited bypass to relieve a congested Norfolk village were given a boost today after councillor’s agreed a developer’s infrastructure funding could be used for the project.

The Long Stratton bypass, which could ease traffic levels on the busy A140 Ipswich Road, looks set to receive funding from Sunguard Land’s 120 home development at Chequers Road, Tharston after South Norfolk Council’s development management committee decided against using the money to provide affordable housing.

A report by planning officer Helen Mellors stated the amount of additional affordable housing paid for by the £500,000 developer funding would have varied on whether the homes were to built off-site or on-site.

Off-site, the sum would have covered a further seven affordable homes, but on-site only the money would have provided only an extra three-and-a-half houses.

At a meeting in September, councillors had called for the money to be used for more affordable housing because they were unhappy only 12 affordable homes were being provided as part of the outline plans when they were hoping 33pc of the development would be affordable.

But today, the committee agreed the money should be used for the bypass after a number of committee members suggested affordable housing could be provided as part of plans to redevelop Cygnet House care home in Long Stratton to provide 56 homes.

Derek Blake, who represents Chedgrave and Thurton, said: “We are in the horns of a dilemma here and soon Cygnet House may deliver the affordable housing we are looking for, so I would look for the bypass instead. It is the obvious way to go and the way I would go.”

The committee also decided to reinstate a condition that single storey housing should be included in the development after a number of councillors, including Lisa Neal, who represents Poringland and the Framinghams, lamented a lack of single storey homes in the area.

The development had received 90 objection letters from nearby residents citing fears Chequers Road would not be able to cope with increased traffic associated with the development, while rare wildlife living at the site could be destroyed to make way for the homes.