Thousands of new homes approved for village

Plans to build one of the largest housing developments in Norfolk's history have been approved, with almost 4,000 homes set to be built on a former US airbase.

Broadland District Council's planning committee unanimously backed proposals for 3,850 properties in Rackheath, a village north of Norwich, in a move that will increase the population from around 2,000 to more than 11,000.

The scheme, submitted by Taylor Wimpey, will effectively create a new town linking Rackheath with nearby Salhouse.

Alongside the homes, plans include two primary schools, a secondary school, a leisure centre and two shopping precincts.

First put forward in 2022, the development forms part of the Greater Norwich Local Plan, which sets out provision for up to 45,000 homes across the region over the next 15 years.

However, the project has been controversial with parish councils in Rackheath, Salhouse and Wroxham raising concerns including flooding risks, road safety and growing pressure on health services.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service said just 12% of the homes were set to be affordable, well below Broadland's policy target of 33%.

The developer argued a higher figure would render the scheme financially unviable - a position accepted by planning officers, who recommended approval.

Councillors were advised that because the authority could not currently demonstrate a five-year housing supply, refusing the application would be difficult to defend on appeal.

During the meeting, members called for "up-front development" to ensure promised infrastructure - which also includes a leisure centre, 3G sports pitch and road connections - is delivered.

Conservative councillor Stuart Clancy said the scheme was a "massive, massive development, with massive implications" and stressed the importance of representing existing communities.

Taylor Wimpey's Rachel Anderson told the meeting it was "a high-quality development providing a balanced mix of housing to support the needs of the local community now and in many years to come".

Rackheath was earmarked for major expansion as an "eco-town" in 2009, but the plans never materialised.

The approval marks the latest in a series of applications to be approved around the village, which is now one of the fastest growing in Norfolk.

The project is expected to take up to 30 years to complete.

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