Blueprint for hundreds of homes approved
A key document which outlines where thousands of homes will be built in the next 15 years has been approved today.
It’s what developers in areas like Cringleford have been waiting for.
The document in question is called The Joint Core Strategy (JCS), and was developed by the Greater Norwich Development Partnership (GNDP) outlining which areas can grow in the next 15 years. Government inspectors examined the soundness of the planning blueprint at the end of last year – and today published their report, saying: “The JCS sets out a sound long-term strategy for this growth and the GNDP position on the issue is worthy of support.”
The GNDP is a partnership between Broadland District Council, Norwich City Council, South Norfolk District Council, Norfolk County Council, and the Broads Authority, formed to help manage growth in Norwich and its surrounding areas.
Developers, such as Building Partnerships based on Queen’s Road, have been waiting for today’s report before moving ahead with plans for Cringleford. As reported earlier, they want to build 2000 homes on the edge of Cringleford (area outlined in red on map.)
Norwich City Council leader, Steve Morphew welcomed the news: “This should mean the end of developer and expediency driven development and growth. Instead we can grow a successful city area with residents, businesses, developers and providers of services within the framework of a tested and evidence based set of plans forged between four councils. Despite many differences in many policy areas, we have come together to create a strategy that reflects our shared passion for a successful future.”
The JCS will now be put before a full council meeting of each local planning authority involved in its creation. If approved at these meetings, then the JCS and the principles it sets out will be a legally binding framework within which the area will develop over the next 15 years.
The Greater Norwich Development Partnership have come under criticism for holding their meetings about Norwich’s future in private. In January, Claire Stephenson, leader of Norwich City Council Green Party, has lobbied for greater transparency: “The decisions taken by the GNDP affect the lives of thousands of people who live in and around Norwich, and it’s terrible that these decisions have been taken in private for several years. Meetings that affect people’s lives and the character of Norwich should be open to all, so everyone knows what’s going on.”
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