Bromford Flagship’s plan for Norfolk estate regeneration rejected after local campaign

Bromford Flagship’s plans to redevelop a housing estate in Norfolk have been rejected by councillors after significant local opposition.

The 80,000-home association was seeking outline approval for a masterplan setting out “comprehensive redevelopment” of the Abbey Estate in Thetford.

While it was seeking planning approval for a 500-home uplift of the existing 1,087 homes on the estate, its illustrative proposal presented an option in which 551 homes and 726 garages would be demolished and replaced with 859 new homes, resulting in a total 1,395.

An indicative phasing plan set out a nine or ten-stage development over a period of 20 years. A total of 25% of the net housing gain proposed would be affordable housing and none would be for social rent, under initial proposals, while the illustrative height strategy includes buildings of up to six storeys, with the taller elements closer to the centre of the development.

Since Flagship, which recently merged with Bromford, began consulting on redevelopment in 2019, local opponents to the plans have organised as the Abbey Action Group.

On its website, the group claim the extra 500 households would “put a strain on Thetford’s already stretched services” and complain about the potential loss of private garages and front gardens.

The application received 193 objections through Breckland District Council’s planning portal and Thetford Town Council also stated its opposition, arguing that the proposals would “atomise” the existing community as well as resulting in the loss of open spaces and trees and increasing.

While the application was nevertheless recommended for approval by planning officers, councillors decided to contradict the recommendation, voting to refuse the plans at a packed planning committee meeting yesterday (Thursday) to loud applause and celebration.

>> Read more: Bromford Flagship and LiveWest enter merger talks to create 120,000-home group

Councillors initially cited the reduction in open space as the basis for refusal, but were advised by an officer that this was “not justifiable on the facts” and that it would be “extremely difficult to defend at a public inquiry”.

He suggested that, while the plans were generally compliant with local development policy, the stress caused by “uncertainties” around Flagship’s plans, particularly relating to compulsory purchase, could be argued to be a material factor that outweighed this. This justification was endorsed by councillors.

The masterplan architect on the scheme was Levitt Bernstein, while Aecom provided a range of engineering services.

Bromford Flagship recently entered talks to merge with LiveWest, which would create a 120,000-home group. Bromford Flagship has been approached for comment.