Breckland councillors to determine controversial development plans at Dereham, Norfolk

Support us from £3/month

We deal with almost 1000 cases a year assisting communities, groups and individuals in protecting their local spaces and paths in all parts of England and Wales. Can you help us by joining as a member?

Land on the edge of the development site © Copyright Hugh Venables and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

On Monday (15 January) Breckland Council’s Planning Committee will determine the planning application to build 291 houses on agricultural land south of Dereham in Norfolk. There are more than 192 objectors, including the society, the Ramblers and five town and parish councils.

This development on open countryside will bring no public benefit and no new opportunities for informal recreation. Although there is mention of new open space in the development, this is of little use where there is no link with the existing public right-of-way network. We do not consider that this substantial development has been thought through strategically.

At the very least, the developers should create new, permanent public paths through the development, connecting new open spaces which should be dedicated as village greens. Once land is dedicated as a green, local people have rights of recreation there and the land is protected for ever.

Join the discussion

0 Shares

Posted in