Homes could be approved despite fears over bridge

Nearly 400 homes planned for farmland in a town's suburb have been recommended for approval despite concerns a required railway bridge will not be built.

Persimmon Homes wants to construct the 380 properties on land off Westfield Road in Dereham, Norfolk and it already has outline permission for them.

A new bridge over the railway that would support two-way traffic was a key requirement in the original permission, but neighbouring parish councillors worry little progress has been made to prepare for its construction.

Breckland Council meets next week to make a decision on whether to grant planning permission for the layout, design of the homes and types of housing.

Approval for the overall scheme was granted in 2020. At the time, the project, in Toftwood, faced 200 objections from residents, mostly concerning traffic fears.

It was granted with a condition that the existing narrow railway bridge at Westfield Lane would be demolished and a wider two-way bridge would be constructed in its place.

Whinburgh and Westfield Parish Council, south of Dereham, warned the bridge was "critical to avoid traffic gridlock".

However, it said there was currently no evidence to show legal matters and other agreements needed for the bridge to be installed had been secured.

The parish council added: "The continuing delays and absence of detailed bridge-related information suggest increasing uncertainty that the bridge will ever be built."

Another potential hurdle for the homes is that final approval would require flood experts and highways officials at Norfolk County Council to approve changes to the drainage plans and road layout.

The scheme has only received one objection from a member of the public, who complained the housing would block their view across fields.

After reviewing the housing plans, a planning officer recommended they were approved, subject to no objections over flooding or highways matters.

On the issue of the railway bridge, the officer said its replacement was secured through the conditions in the original permission and did not see this as an issue.

The district council's planning committee will meet on Tuesday to make a decision. The plans are split between two applications, one for 291 homes and the other for 89.

Persimmon Homes did not respond to a request for comment.

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