Plan for 250 homes near Norwich City’s stadium could see bus route diverted

One of the city's main bus routes could be diverted to serve a new 250-home complex planned close to Norwich City's Carrow Road stadium.

Revamped plans for more than 200 homes close to the football club were granted outline planning permission by city councillors today.

And councillors heard how the car free development, on a gravel car park between the ATB Laurence Scott test bed and the river, could be served by the number 25 bus route, which runs from Norwich train station to the University of East Anglia.

Broadland Housing Association revealed in November last year how it wanted to build the new homes as part of the 'Carrow Road quarter'.The housing association had snapped up the land for the homes from the football club and, in January this year, lodged plans for 208 homes on the site.

However, the fresh proposals, which came before the council's planning committee, would see about 40 extra homes built.

Stephen Little, Green city councillor for Town Close ward, said he welcomed the plan for the development to be car free, but questioned the lack of a bus service in the area.

But City Hall planning officer Rob Parkinson said council officers were working with the developer to get the roads up to standard to make the area more attractive for bus firms to serve.

He said the number 25 service, which currently calls at Morrisons after coming down Carrow Road could pass close to the new development before heading over past the swimming pool and through to Morrisons.

He said: 'The highways guys have been talking to the bus operators and they think it is certainly feasible.

'There is reason to be confident that the bus routes will be provided. We cannot make the bus companies do it, but we are confident there is a financial incentive for them to.'