‘Milestone’ as 5,000 homes and £150m investment for Thetford are approved

Thousands of homes and £150 million of community investment will be coming to Thetford after the approval of a landmark development.

Consent has been secured for the Thetford Sustainable Urban Extension, which will see 5,000 properties built on land owned by the Crown Estate on the northern edge of the town.

Named the KingsFleet development, the scheme from property company Pigeon will also see a £150 million investment in infrastructure and community facilities in one of the most detailed Section 106 agreements seen in Norfolk for decades.

Cllr Michael Wassell, Breckland Council leader, said: “This is a significant milestone in the development of the area around Thetford and indeed for the wider district.

“It is expected that the much-needed new homes will be built in stages over the coming 20 to 30 years.

“The development will also see the creation of new jobs on 19.5 hecrates of land identified for business use and important facilities put in place.”

The Section 106 agreement, which dictates the allocation of funds delivered with the development, includes at least two primary schools and one secondary school, new bus routes, road improvements, cycle and pedestrian routes, a sports pitch, an extension of Thetford Police Station including two new vehicles and a 48 acre employment site, as well as green space including allotments and parkland.

Cafés, pubs, restaurants, a nursery, community hall and place of worship will also form part of the scheme.

Steve Melligan, strategic land manager at the Crown Estate, said: “We are delighted to have reached this important milestone in the development of KingsFleet.

“Our plans will deliver new high quality homes, jobs and facilities for Thetford, and we look forward to working with a development partner and the local authority to help realise this very exciting project.”

The first phase of development for 625 homes is being marketed to house builders and developers, with a potential start date for construction of Autumn 2016.