The future sustainability of a Mid Norfolk village has been given a boost with planning permission granted for 21 new homes, including five affordable properties.

Eastern Daily Press: Layout for new homes in Colkirk. Picture: supplied by Land GroupLayout for new homes in Colkirk. Picture: supplied by Land Group (Image: Archant)

The development in Colkirk, near Fakenham, will be carried out by Breckland Bridge, the joint venture partnership between Breckland Council and private sector developers The Land Group.

It will consist of a range of detached, semi-detached and terraced two, three and four-bedroom homes, and it will be built on nearly one hectare of vacant land owned by the district council.

Paul Hewett, executive member for contracts and assets at Breckland Council, said: "This new housing development will create new housing opportunities for local people and contribute to meeting the demand for housing.

"This will also provide a boost to nearby shops, helping the rural community to remain sustainable for years to come and ensure Breckland remains a place where people and business can thrive."

The site has been designed as two separate streets, both facing west with rear gardens to the east and south-east, and open space on the east of the site alongside existing mature trees. The architecture by Hoopers of Ipswich includes flank roofs and cat-slide dormer windows.

People will be able to drive onto the development via Whissonsett Road, while a new pedestrian path will be in place connecting to the village centre to the north and playing fields and allotments in the south.

The Breckland Bridge partnership, which also built the £8m Thetford Riverside Leisure Complex, recently completed a 14-house development in Mileham.

It is also about to start construction of 10 homes in Attleborough, and has been given the green light for a development of 16 dwellings in Litcham.

Land Group director David Winch said: "We are thrilled to have obtained planning permission at Colkirk which will ensure that we can provide a stunning and sustainable housing project with a significant amount of open space. This development is the next important step from Breckland Bridge following the acclaimed project at nearby Mileham, which was completed last year."

The population of Colkirk, which was mentioned in the Domesday Book, was 588 at the 2011 census.