300 new homes in Rackheath passes important hurdle

Plans for a major development in one of Norfolk’s fastest growing villages have passed an important hurdle.

The application for 300 houses in Rackheath returned to Broadland Council’s planning committee this week, after being given the green light more than a year ago.

The development is part of a proposal to expand the village, with a separate application seeking a further 3,850 homes to be built across the wider site off Wroxham Road.

Following its approval in 2023, the plans for 300 homes had to be reconsidered due to the adoption of the Greater Norwich Local Plan (GNLP).

This earmarks land where councils consider the construction of new homes and the creation of jobs could be acceptable.

The GNLP includes the allocation of land for 10,000 new homes in Norwich and opens the door for hundreds more homes to be built in places such as Rackheath, Hellesdon, Drayton, Taverham, Wymondham and Thorpe St Andrew.

Inclusion of sites in the plan makes it more likely that councillors will grant planning permission for proposals on that land.

The application returned to the planning committee to be reconsidered against the requirements of the GNLP, such as safe and convenient access and provision of appropriate local facilities.

The proposals were considered to comply with the policies, although some matters will need to be considered separately in a more detailed application, due to be submitted by the developers.

Eleanor Laming, chair of the committee, said the application presented this week was “even better” than before due to “improvements” that had been required under the new policy.

Jo Copplestone, a Conservative councillor, added: “It is great that we are going to start seeing building works on the site shortly.”

It is expected the new housing developments will transform the village, bringing significant growth to a community which has a population of around 2,200.