North Walsham residents say they have 'grave concerns' over plans for thousands of new homes
North Norfolk District Council was told it must find space for more homes by government officials
Locals in a Norfolk town set to nearly double in size have said they have “grave concerns” over plans to build more than 2,400 homes.
North Walsham, which is already earmarked for 2,150 homes, could now see 2,480 built after North Norfolk District Council (NNDC) was told it must find space for more properties by government officials.
It follows a new site of 330 dwellings in the north of the town being added to its local plan – a key document that identifies where development can take place in the district over the next 15 years.
The move has prompted frustrations among councillors, who worry services and infrastructure will be unable to cope with the increase.
It comes as people living in Coltishall, a village to the south, are already complaining that the main road through the village – the most direct route from Norwich to North Walsham- is already a dangerous bottleneck.
Paul Heinrich, a councillor for North Walsham East, worried the additional properties would make things worse for the town.
"We have to get this right"
At a recent NNDC planning policy meeting, he said: “We have to get this right… North Walsham has grave concerns about being asked to take all of these homes.
“This will increase the population even more.
“People have to wait for doctor’s appointments for three to four weeks as it is. There are not enough public transport links. People will be reliant on cars.
“This will mean there are 300 more cars coming through Coltishall. I am sure Broadland councillors will have something to say about that.”
Mr Heinrich has instead called for housing to be spread across the district rather than just concentrating on expanding larger towns like North Walsham, Cromer and Fakenham.
However, there are already plans to build 870 homes in small villages like Northrepps and Roughton as part of the revised local plan.
NNDC is under pressure to get the new document approved by government officials and has just a six-month window to do so.