Councillors today approved 'vital' plans to transform an area of Aylsham to incorporate a 300-home development along with a new �1.1m fitness centre and a modernised swimming pool.

Members of the community, including representatives from the high school, spoke at Broadland District Council's planning committee meeting this morning and praised the plans submitted by developer Welbeck Strategic Land.

The planning application will see up to 300 homes on land north of Sir William's Lane built as part of a three-phase, six-year scheme. This will include the new facilities for the high school, public open space, two acres of new allotments and a protected wildlife footpath along the River Bure.

A third of the properties on the development have also been allocated for affordable housing in the town which has a population of 6,000.

Head teacher of Aylsham High School, Duncan Spalding, said Welbeck's plans gave the high school and local feeder primaries the chance to 'seize opportunities' and safeguard existing facilities such as the swimming pool - which was estimated to have helped 3,000 people learn to swim in the last 10 years.

He added: 'These plans would help to support a legacy for the future. I am also a resident of Aylsham with a young family and this vital development will open up new possibilities and help to expand the school.'

The initial plans were refused last year by Broadland district councillors, who said they did not feel the benefits to the community.

Today's approval of Welbeck's plans means the green light has now been given to a total of 550 new Aylsham homes in just under a year.

Broadland recently approved plans for 250 homes, 10 football pitches and a clubhouse on farmland off Cawston Road, submitted by Youngs Farms, run by the family of England rugby star Ben Youngs.

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