Residents asked for say on West Winch Housing Access Road plans as part of Norfolk County Council consultation
A scheme allowing residents to have their say on an access road for new housing developments has been launched.
The West Winch Housing Access Road consultation period opened yesterday (Monday), giving people a chance to put forward their views before the planning application is finalised and submitted next year.
The new road will serve the South East Lynn Growth Area, known as the West Winch Growth area, which could see up to 4,000 new homes built during the next 20 years.
The consultation will be run by Norfolk County Council for eight weeks until January 8, with three events being held during that period.
David Allfrey, assistant director for infrastructure delivery at the county council, said: “The road is an essential part of the wider plans to create new housing in the area and resolve traffic issues on the existing A10.
“We are therefore working closely with the borough council and local partners to deliver this vital piece of infrastructure as soon as possible.
“This consultation will provide everyone with more detail about the proposed scheme which would see the A10 re-routed as it approaches King’s Lynn. This is an important opportunity for us to receive local input before we finalise and submit the planning application next year.
“I would encourage as many people as possible to look through the proposals and give us their feedback.”
The proposed road would connect the A10 to the A47 via a new 1.5-mile road, starting to the south of Gravelhill Lane in West Winch and joining the A47 before it reaches the Hardwick Junction.
It would join the A47 via a new signalised roundabout and dedicated free-flow slip road, as well as seeing the dualling of the A47 between Hardwick and the new road.
Council bosses say that changes will be made to the Hardwick Interchange to account for extra housing traffic and the re-routed A10.
If successful, the West Winch Housing Access Road would reportedly provide an alternative route around West Winch – with the volume of traffic flowing through the village expected to fall significantly.
In its opening year, projections cited by the council suggest that the daily traffic through West Winch will be around 55-62% lower than 2018 levels.
Further changes may also include reductions to existing speed limits, weight restrictions on heavy goods vehicles and new crossings for pedestrians and cyclists.
Plans would see the new road intersect two existing local roads in Rectory Lane and Chequers Lane. The proposals would see a new bridge built to carry the former over the access road to maintain connectivity between West Winch and North Runcton.
The latter would be severed to prevent traffic travelling through North Runcton to the A47. The opportunity for a pedestrian and cycle crossing at Chequers Lane will also be explored as part of the consultation.
The consultation will look at issues such as air quality, noise, biodiversity and drainage.
lResidents can give their feedback by filling in an online questionnaire at www.norfolk.gov.uk/WestWinchA10
Three events will be held during the consultation period at:
lWest Winch Primary School, November 23, 4pm-9pm;
lThe Village Meeting Place, North Runcton, December 10, 10am-4pm;
lWest Winch Primary School, January 4, 4pm-9pm.
Copies of the consultation can be requested by emailing westwincha10@norfolk.gov.uk or phoning 0344 800 8020. People can return their paper questionnaire to the council, or write a letter.
The consultation will close on January 8, with the planning application due to be submitted next year.
Subject to approval, construction of the West Winch Housing Access Road is due to get under way in late 2025 – with construction to last around two years.
