Almost 250 homes planned for farmland in Aylsham

More than 200 homes could be built in a Norfolk town branded one of the best places to live in the UK.

Developer Hopkins Homes has submitted a bid to build 242 properties in Aylsham, on a 31.78-acre site – roughly 16 football pitches – on land south of Burgh Road.

The area is currently largely used as farmland, with a north eastern section used for car boots.

Aylsham was named one of the best places to live in the UK by both the Sunday Times and lifestyle magazine Muddy Stilettos earlier this year.

Locals have praised its “community feel,” great facilities for kids and the fact it has “retained its Georgian market town feel” as reasons for its popularity.

In plans submitted to Broadland District Council (BDC), Hopkins Homes said the scheme will also include 6.9 acres of public open space, including an “informal recreation area”, orchard and play space.

Almost five acres of land will also be set aside for a new primary school.

Of the homes, 79 –33pc – will be classed as affordable.

The developer said the principle of development on the site has already been established, with it being included in the emerging Greater Norwich Local Plan (GNLP).

The GNLP sets out which sites are acceptable for development across Broadland, South Norfolk and Norwich between now and 2038.

The statement said: “The Proposed Development seeks to deliver a high-quality designed development, informed by a landscape-led approach to achieve an attractive, inclusive and biodiverse realm.

“One of the underlying principles is to provide a high-quality, attractive public realm for future occupants of the development, providing a safe and inclusive outdoor environment for all ages.”

The population of Aylsham was 8,717 at the time of the last census in 2021.

If all the properties have two people living in them the development would increase the population of Aylsham by 484 – a 5pc increase – to 9,201.

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