Thorpe Marriot estate: Pub and 1,500 homes could be built on farmland

A new development with more than 1,500 homes and a pub could be built either side of a former railway line.

Council officials have recommended that a housing estate should be built on farmland on the edge of Thorpe Marriott, in Norwich, Norfolk, despite resident objections.

Final permission is expected to be given at a Broadland District Council planning meeting on Wednesday.

The estate would also include a primary school, a medical centre, and shops.

As part of the proposals, 1,530 homes would be built on 193 acres of land near the Norwich Northern Distributor Road.

If approved, allotment space, 40 acres of "informal recreational space" and 10 acres of play areas would also be created.

Sixteen members of the public objected to the plans and raised concerns about the estate being out of keeping with the area, and the potential for increased noise pollution and traffic.

However, council officials said the development would not cause any "significant harm" and provided benefits such as housing, schools and a health hub.

If given the green light, the scheme is expected to bring about 3,500 people to the area, which had a population of 14,989 at the time of the last census in 2021.

The site has been included in the emerging Greater Norwich Local Plan, which said 50,000 new homes were needed in the city area by 2038.

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