Decision delayed on historic site
Despite standing disused for over 3 years, a decision on plans for a green open space in the city has been postponed.
Around 200 residents packed a public meeting in Lakenham in the summer, with many arguing the land should be kept for community use.
But any decision on what happens next is at least 9 months away.
What happens to the former cricket ground off City Road was hotly debated at a public meeting in August. The site housed a Sports and Leisure centre, widely used by the local community. For over three years it has stood empty, while plans have been drawn up to develop it. The site is owned by Andre Serruys, and a new proposal includes a minimum of 65 houses on the northern part of the site with a smaller area of public open space to the south.
The community were asked to submit their comments on the proposed development by September 2011 leading to detailed policies for the site due to be published for public consultation last month.
But according to ward councillor David Fairbairn (Lakenham, Lib Dem), this stage won’t now be reached until the summer: ”It is frustrating that the decision about the cricket ground being on the site allocation plan has been put off yet again. Local people have had to live with the uncertainty about what may happen to the site, for years, and that is very wearing.”
Councillor Fairbairn proposed a rescue plan for the space in September saying: “There is little enough open space in this part of the city, and people remember when the cricket ground was open and you could walk round there. This is a historic site, cricket has been played here for about 170 years. It is part of Norwich’s heritage. I am trying to find a way to keep the site as a green space that people have access to, in this built-up area of the city. If houses are built there, the land will be lost forever. A land swap could be a way to do this.”
Lakenham’s former cricket ground is one of 12 sites within Norwich being proposed for development, including land on Bluebell Road, currently owned by Bartram Mowers Ltd, which could be developed for housing for the elderly.
In a statement, Norwich City Council said: “Local authorities up and down the country await changes to the national planning system the government is due to be making in March [..] The council’s intention was to have these [plans] ready for the next stage of consultation at the start of 2012, ready for adoption later in the year or early 2013. But to make sure these fit in with the government’s National planning policy framework, due this Spring, these will go back for final public consultation in the autumn of this year for adoption the following autumn.”
Local resident, Patrick Manning added: “I think the council’s hands are effectively tied in postponing the site allocation decisions. Residents will be pleased to know that local people’s views are said to be a priority of the framework but at the same time, the select committee reviewing its progress recently has raised concerns about what looks like being a presumption in favour of development. Others fear a ‘developers’ charter’. We’ll have to watch this carefully. Our united voices have paid dividends so far but we may have to raise them louder once the framework comes to be implemented.”
Councillor Bert Bremner, cabinet member for planning and transportation added: “It’s vital we get this local planning framework right as this is so important for the future prosperity, jobs and homes for the city.”
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