West Winch site proposal gathers pace

Work continues to go into delivering the proposed site for West Winch which will see thousands of homes built on the edge of Lynn.

Officers told a borough council meeting on Tuesday night that an access road is being designed for the site as well as an ecological survey being conducted within the next couple of weeks.

The officers also met with landowners today to make clear what the council’s proposals are, and to reach an agreement for the site.

And it was emphasised that work is being carried out to ensure houses are not built on the site which will affect the A10.

Nikki Patton, housing strategy officer for the proposal, told the meeting that a formal plan for a Hopkins Homes road on the northern part of the site is intended to be available by April.

Hopkins will be producing a new piece of road on the A47 up to Constitution Hill which will be “accessed in a way that does not cause additional problems to the A10”.

Officer Alan Gomm also said it has been a struggle to get someone to deliver all of the strategic growth area for an outline application, which is “on the cusp of being delivered” but which “needs that extra urge”.

Two planning applications have been received, but landowners are being urged to come together to know what the section 106 agreement entails.

Mr Gomm said government sanctions had previously not allowed the plan to go through because it was not shown that the section 106 agreement for the site was “far enough ahead” to be able to “demonstrate it could go forward”.

He added: “If we want to make this happen, we need to know what motivates the landowners so discussions are key.

“We are setting up those mechanisms and legal arrangements to get that through.”

Officers also reiterated the total capacity of the site will accommodate 4,000 new homes.

At least 1,600 of these would be delivered by 2026 with the overall lease for the units running for at least 18 years.

West Winch and North Runcton Parish Councils will be holding a meeting on Saturday at West Winch village hall from 10.30am until 3.30pm.

The meeting is to discuss the planning application submitted to build 500 houses in the vicinity of Rectory Lane and within the confines of the village.

County councillor Alex Kemp said it was a huge issue in West Winch which lots of people have written to her about. She said it’s solely to make maximum profits.