Thetford Town Council has formally objected to the outline planning application for the redevelopment of the Abbey Estate, warning that the current proposals would have a “detrimental impact” on residents and the wider community.
In an open letter to Breckland Council, the Town Council highlighted concerns over the scale of demolition and loss of amenity. The plans could see 548 homes demolished, along with 726 garages and 187 mature trees. The Council argues this would reduce open space by the equivalent of 7.5 football pitches and leave the estate short of 613 parking spaces, which they say is against Norfolk County Council guidelines.
Other points raised include the compulsory purchase of privately owned homes, the potential loss of community networks for vulnerable residents, and the demolition of garages currently used for storage and leisure. Councillors also stressed that the parking strategy does not account for the growing need for electric vehicle charging.
The letter concludes: “If approved, the existing residents will suffer an enormous loss of amenity. We request that any reserved matters are dealt with using a detailed masterplan approach for the whole development, to avoid a piecemeal approach which could result in a negative cumulative impact.”
In a statement, developer Bromford Flagship said: “We’re seeking outline planning permission for the regeneration of the Abbey Estate, which could deliver up to 500 homes. This is an illustrative application – anything shown is just one way the regeneration could be delivered. We’ll continue to work closely with the community to shape the detail through reserved matters applications if outline permission is granted.”
Additional information has recently been submitted by the developer to address questions from statutory consultees. The application is expected to be determined at a forthcoming Breckland Council committee meeting, where councillors will take into account the Town Council’s objection, alongside comments from residents and other stakeholders.
