Caistor St Edmund country park and homes plan edges forward

A highly controversial plan to build 180 new homes, a new school, and a country park on the city's outskirts has made significant progress. Located in Cringleford St Edmund, near Norwich, the development has been in the works for over three years and has sparked strong opposition from local residents.

However, Norfolk County Council has withdrawn a key objection, making the project more likely to be approved. Previously, the project included a state primary school for 420 pupils, a new village hall, and a 63-acre country park, roughly equivalent to 126 football pitches.

Villagers opposing the development have criticized the shift as "very strange" and have lodged a fresh appeal with South Norfolk Council, urging them to consider their concerns. Some local residents believe that the project, to be built on land north of Keswick Lane, will increase pressure on local services and strain the area's roads.

Norfolk County Council's highways department previously held the same view and had repeatedly objected to the development, stating it "likely to result in conditions prejudicial to highway safety." The department withdrew its objection after receiving further information from the developer in recent months, including details about emergency access to the site, a move that has shocked some villagers. They argue that the new evidence still does not demonstrate that Keswick Lane can cope with a significant increase in traffic flow.

A new objection submitted to South Norfolk Council claims that "fundamental risks" to public safety are being overlooked and urges county hall highways officers to revisit the decision. Over the past few years, South Norfolk Council has received more than 200 formal objections from local residents, and an action group has been formed to oppose the highly contentious development. Currently, the planning department at South Norfolk Council is still considering the application. Cringleford contains the remains of the Roman town of Venta Icenorum, but the proposed development is at the other end of the village, on land north of Keswick Lane near Framingham Earl and Arminghall.