‘A big day’: Full approval for West Winch housing development

A housing development set to become the biggest in West Norfolk has finally been given the green light.

Proposals for 1,100 homes in West Winch were approved by West Norfolk Council after extensive debate last year - but in recent months, problems with agreements between the developer and landowners have stalled it.

However, today, the scheme was finally approved in full. It also consists of a primary school, community centre, public open space, landscaping, and highway access linking the A47 and A10.

The borough council’s cabinet member for planning, Cllr Jim Moriarty, said: “This is a big day for West Norfolk - it unlocks our growth plans and helps to secure the future prosperity of our borough.

“I would like to thank all the parties involved for their patience, their commitment and their consideration of the complex matters involved in getting a deal of this scale over the line.

“But we have done it and I am absolutely delighted. I now look forward to getting detailed plans through so we can start to deliver the promise of this strategic growth area.”

A Section 106 agreement has been reached with developer Hopkins Homes which will allow the scheme to progress.

This relates to the amount of community funding and infrastructure the developer will provide as part of the scheme, and was the subject of the legal debates which have taken place over the past few months.

Documents say that building work must commence within five years of today.