Thetford Riverside development gets the go ahead

A new hotel, cinema and 10,800sq ft of retail and leisure space for Thetford was given the green light today.

Breckland Council unanimously agreed the formation of an innovative public/private sector partnership to deliver growth, jobs and housing for the district.

As a result of the competitive process, launched in October 2013, Land Group LLP was today selected as the council’s investment and regeneration partner.

The new partnership arrangement will bring private sector resources and expertise to help deliver the major development at Riverside, in Thetford, as well as housing developments in Attleborough and Mileham, which will include affordable homes.

Michael Wassell, Leader of Breckland Council, said: “I am delighted the council has supported this innovative partnership which showcases our new ‘Open for Business’ approach to stimulating regeneration and economic growth, and supporting local enterprise.

“The partnership with Land Group LLP will give the council access to private sector expertise and mean we are well placed to develop council land and assets for the benefit of our communities in terms of new jobs, homes and retail and leisure facilities.

“I am particularly pleased that we are now in position to deliver Thetford Riverside by 2016 with the new jobs and further development it will bring to the town.”

Following today’s decision, work now starts to formalise the working agreement with Land Group LLP and establish the legal and financial framework required for delivery of the first tranche of investment projects.

Work on Riverside, part of the wider regeneration of Thetford, will begin in the first half of 2015 with completion expected towards the end of 2016.

These first three developments are expected to create an initial 50 new jobs for the district.