Affordable Homes Drama: Councillors Demand Site Visit Before Major Decision

A controversial decision regarding the number of affordable homes to be built by Persimmon Homes at the site of the former Royal Norwich Golf Club has been postponed yet again. The developer plans to construct around 780 homes but seeks to drastically reduce the number of affordable units from 185 to just 30 due to surface water issues and rising costs. The Broadland District Council’s planning committee had initially deferred the decision last month to inspect the site in person but ultimately voted for another delay because they hadn’t had the opportunity for a proper visit.

Since receiving outline planning permission in 2016, Persimmon has been constructing the estate in phases, originally proposing to build 1,000 properties. The current request involves not only reducing affordable housing but also cutting down 200 additional trees compared to earlier plans. This sparked objections from Hellesdon Parish Council and concern from Broadland’s tree officer. In a recent meeting, instead of a site visit, the councillors were shown video clips of the area, which led to frustration among several members. Councillor Stuart Clancy, expressing concern over the lack of a site visit, emphasized its potential benefits, citing that visiting the large site could take considerable time and effort but is necessary for making an informed decision.

The committee’s insistence on visiting the site reflects their commitment to understanding the implications of the development fully, acknowledging that a simple video may not suffice in grasping the scale of changes proposed.