Views to be sought on new West Norfolk access road, meeting told
Initial consultations on proposals for a new road intended to serve thousands of new homes on the edge of Lynn could begin soon, councillors heard this week.
Consultants are developing multi-million plans for the route of the new link, which is intended to facilitate the construction of around 4,000 new properties around West Winch.
And officials are also bidding for funding towards the route, which they say will eventually become a new section of the A10.
The latest developments on the long-running scheme were outlined to West Norfolk Council’s regeneration and development panel yesterday.
Lead officer Alan Gomm said work on the project was now getting “back on track” following delays in recent months.
He said: “We want to carry out some preliminary public consultations. I can’t tell you a particular date but we want to do that in the autumn.”
A masterplan for the whole site, whose ownership is split among around 20 different parties, is also being prepared and is set to be the subject of a separate consultation exercise, the meeting was told.
And Mr Gomm said it is hoped plans drawn up by Hopkins Homes for around 1,100 of the planned homes will be put before councillors by the end of the year, or “very soon thereafter.”
But independent Alexandra Kemp said she was concerned about the proposal for individual developers to sign agreements for their contributions to the infrastructure when separate planning applications are brought forward.
She was also worried about the potential funding shortfall for the route, given that only 85 per cent of the cash needed can be sought from central government.
And she highlighted the development of the Northern Distributor Road in Norwich, which was built before any housing was built in the area.
She added: “You can’t build a bypass piecemeal.”
But Mr Gomm said the project was viable, based on the estimated 20 year timescale for the whole area.
He said: “It’s a case of support early on and pay more back later on. Our wish in lobbying government is to build the whole of the access road.”
