Decision time for 550 homes at Norwich's Pinebanks site

Planning officials are recommending that councillors approve most of the homes at the long-empty Pinebanks site in Thorpe St Andrew, near Norwich.

But officers say councillors should turn down 70 of the homes - because of the impact they would have on near neighbours.

The Pinebanks site(Image: Newsquest)

The application for the site, off Yarmouth Road, splits it into four areas - Pinebanks, Langley North, Langley South and Griffin Lane.

Developers Berliet Ltd has asked Broadland District Council for permission to build 260 homes at Pinebanks, 90 at Langley North, 70 at Langley South and 130 at Griffin Lane.

The Pinebanks site(Image: Stantec)

It comes after the company revised previous plans to reduce the number of homes at the site - once home to Norwich Union's Sports and Social Club - from 725 to 550.

The plans for the site have been in the pipeline for years and have been vociferously opposed by families who live in the area, who say roads and infrastructure cannot cope with such a huge increase in population.

In 2022, families took part in a protest march against the scheme.

A protest over plans for homes at Pinebanks(Image: Newsquest)

More than a thousand people signed a petition objecting to the plans during the first round of consultations, while hundreds of individual objections were received over each of the four elements of the scheme.

Thorpe St Andrew Town Council raised concerns about the heights of the buildings, the potential for flooding and the impact on nearby roads.

Norfolk county councillor Ian Mackie(Image: Ian Mackie)

A number of councillors for the area have objected, including Ian Mackie, Norfolk county councillor for Thorpe St Andrew.

He said it would place an "unsustainable burden on the local community".

Broadland district councillor Trudy Mancini-Boyle(Image: Broadland District Council.)

Independent Conservative Trudy Mancini-Boyle, who represents Thorpe St Andrew South East on Broadland District Council, said: "The total number of dwellings on all four sites is over development of the land available, leading to unacceptable impact upon surrounding road networks."

Broadland district councillors Peter Berry (Conservative), who represents Thorpe St Andrew North West and Eleanor Laming (Green), who represents Brundall, have also objected, citing overdevelopment and the potential for congestion.

Broadland district councillor Eleanor Laming(Image: Eleanor Laming)

Norfolk Wildlife Trust and the Woodland Trust were worried about the impact of the proposal on the ancient woodland and veteran trees.

But, despite objections, officers at Broadland District Council are recommending that councillors grant three of the four sites permission.

They say the 260-home Pinebanks scheme, the 90 homes at Langley North, the 130 houses at Griffin Lane are "acceptable in planning terms" subject to certain conditions, a legal agreement and the completion of ecology survey work.

But officers say members of the committee should reject the proposal for 70 homes at Langley South.

The plans for Langley South are recommended for rejection(Image: Archant)

Officers state: "There are significant concerns about the ability of residential development to satisfactorily coexist with the adjacent ancient woodland given their close proximity to one another.

"The relationship is ultimately an unacceptable one in terms of the woodland, ecology and the amenities of future residents."

Broadland District Council's planning committee will make decisions on the site when it meets on Wednesday (October 8).

HISTORY OF THE SITE

The site was also home to the 19th century house Pinebanks, the home of Norwich solicitor John Oddin Howard Taylor .

Pinebanks in Thorpe St Andrew pictured in 1975(Image: Archant)

It used to be home to the Norwich Union Sports and Social Club - the largest privately owned leisure facility in East Anglia, with some 10,000 members.

But the club was closed in 2008 and owners Aviva sold the land the following year.

Plans to redevelop the disused site were then put forward in 2013.

Firefighters at Pinebanks in 2014(Image: Newsquest)

In 2014, the Pinebanks building was badly damaged in a suspected arson, which saw 66 firefighters battling the flames.

Neighbouring Langley North and South were once home to Langley Prep School, while the Griffin pub used to stand on the Griffin Lane site.

The plans for the Pinebanks, Langley North, Langley South and Griffin Lane sites were submitted in early 2022 when development firm Ocubis outlined its vision to build 575 homes.

New plans were put forward at the end of 2022 reducing the proposed number of homes.