Wymondham's neighbourhood plan approved by South Norfolk

South Norfolk Council (SNC) has approved Wymondham's neighbourhood plan, a vision for how the area should develop between now and 2038. 

The neighbourhood plan does not set out specific areas for houses to be built but does provide policies, objectives and projects for SNC to follow when determining planning applications in the town. 

The plan includes 10 policies, addressing issues such as the ‘vibrancy’ of the town centre by improving lighting, planting and seating. 

Wymondham Town Centre (Image: George Thompson, LDR)

It also includes support for reducing the width of roads to make a more pedestrian-friendly area and improving accessibility in areas like Back Lane. 

Six projects have also been outlined in the plans, including decluttering public areas by removing "obsolete items" and reviewing signage and maps in the town centre. 

The town has surged in size in recent years, burgeoning from 10,000 in 1991 to almost 17,000 today. 

This increase means the footprint of Wymondham has edged closer to Norwich while the gap between the northeastern edge of Wymondham and its neighbour - Hethersett - has grown smaller. 

The plan seeks to maintain the ‘strategic gap’ between Wymondham and Hethersett to make sure the areas remain separate. 

The plan was approved by a meeting of SNC’s full council on Monday, following a public referendum last month. 

Wymondham town sign (Image: George Thompson, LDR)

The referendum saw 85pc of the people that voted in support of the plan. 

However, the turnout was extremely small, with just 1,836 people - 13.13pc - of the 13,980 people eligible to vote turning out.  

Lisa Neal, the cabinet member for stronger, greener economy, said she was pleased to see the plan, which has been in the works for three years, progress, calling Wymondham "one of the most important towns in the district".