Thetford residents face housing battle
Residents are gearing up to fight against a controversial housing development in Thetford for a second time.
Residents are gearing up to fight against a controversial housing development in Thetford for a second time.
National house builder Taylor Woodrow has submitted a planning appeal after a 57-home scheme in Norwich Road was unanimously rejected earlier in the year.
The developer came under fierce criticism from Breckland councillors, who accused the company of trying to dictate “overdeveloped” and “chicken house” plans on local authorities.
But officials at Taylor Woodrow say that the proposals for the two and a half acre undeveloped site near the Ark pub are in line with government housing policies and includes 17 affordable homes and has submitted a planning appeal.
The news was met with surprise by local residents who had been told by the developer that it intended to submit a new application for 41 homes on the same site.
Anne Henry, who lives near the site, said a petition was being formed against the appeal and Thetford town councillors would be discussing the matter on Wednesday .
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“We are objecting to the application because the density is too much for a small plot and the road situation is already dreadful on Norwich Road, which will be the only access to the site. We do not think that there is any infrastructure to support all these new houses,” she said.
A petition signed by 35 residents and 13 letters of objection were sent to Breckland Council at the last planning meeting. Members unanimously refused the plans on overdevelopment concerns after learning that the site had been subject to a proposed 15 home scheme more than ten years ago.
