Published: Wednesday, 3rd November 2021
The Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk and Norfolk County Council are planning a series of meetings to progress the established housing growth plans for West Winch area.
Face to face meetings are set to resume following a break during the pandemic when these were not possible.
The meetings come as a business case is being prepared as part of a funding proposal being made to the Department for Transport (DFT) to fund the housing access road. This will enable housing and will also relieve traffic congestion on the A10.
Councillor Richard Blunt, Cabinet Member for Development and Regeneration said: “We are absolutely committed to working with local stakeholders around the development and delivery of the West Winch Strategic Growth Area and I am pleased that our meetings with the local stakeholder group are starting again.
“The West Winch Strategic Growth area provides a once-in-a-generation opportunity to bring much needed homes, access, and facilities. It has the potential to bring huge benefits for the community.
“We really value the ongoing input of the stakeholder group. We are keen to listen and keep people informed both within the stakeholder group and in the wider community, and in the coming years we will provide many opportunities to do just this.”
Councillor Martin Wilby, Norfolk County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, Infrastructure and Transport, said: “We’re pleased to be working closely with the Borough Council on this scheme as the £65m West Winch Housing Access Road aims to put appropriate infrastructure in place before the development of 4,000 new homes in the area. A new connection between the A47 and A10 will reduce traffic through the village of West Winch and cut congestion on the A10 to the Hardwick junction. We have submitted a strategic outline business case to the Department for Transport with the ultimate aim of securing approximately £50m Government funding for the route, and are hopeful of a positive response.”
The West Winch Strategic Growth Area is the largest and most strategically important site for housing in west Norfolk and will allow for the creation of up to 4,000 homes. The delivery of the development on the site will take place over around 18 years with a phased approach to minimise disruption. As well as the new housing access road which will support future development. The councils have committed that the road should be developed as a priority to unlock development of the site.
The growth area will offer employment opportunities, commercial space, community resources, health facilities, education, play facilities, public open spaces, and transport links all on one site, and will bring economic benefits for the immediate area and west Norfolk as a whole.
The borough council and Norfolk county council are playing an enabling role, getting the site ready for development so that it can maximise its potential for existing and future residents.