The GNDP is a partnership of locally elected representatives. It is managing growth in Broadland, Norwich and South Norfolk to ensure it works in the best interests of local residents and that local businesses share in new economic opportunities

Norwich and the surrounding areas need housing growth over the next 20 years for a number of reasons:

• Local people are living longer, and more live alone, resulting in smaller households. This increases the need for more houses irrespective of any growth in population.

• The area is attractive to people moving from other parts of the country, for economic reasons or lifestyle choices.

• More local people are in need of housing as not enough homes have been built in recent years.

The GNDP has produced a ‘Joint Core Strategy’ (JCS) to carefully managing the process of growth.

The JCS will ensure that the locations where new homes can be built are carefully selected. Where appropriate, enough homes will be built together to form new communities. This will give scope for new facilities to be provided, rather than place undue strain on those serving existing communities.

The GNDP is working hard to attract funding to the area to make sure that growth is sustainable and supported by significant infrastructure improvements and new opportunities.

Growth is about more than just new houses. The work we are doing now will have a wide ranging impact across the three districts:

 

Culture

• We will ensure that existing cultural assets are maintained and new ones developed.

• We will create new public spaces and sports facilities for local people to enjoy.

• We will improve access to the countryside.

• We will invest in small scale, local arts projects, and put innovative art and design at the heart of the public realm.

 

Transport

• We will encourage sustainable modes of transport through, new cycle routes and footways.

• We will plan for new homes to be near services, jobs, schools, and recreational facilities.

• We will improve public transport, including a new Bus Rapid Transport system on key Norwich routes.

• We will improve the road network, particularly through the Northern Distributor Road, which will relieve congestion in the city centre.

• We will make sure we’re well connected to the rest of the world by supporting the growth of Norwich International Airport.

Economy

• We will safeguard existing employment sites and allocate new land to meet the needs of investors, new businesses, and local businesses looking to expand.

• We will prioritise economic growth in market towns and revitalise the rural economy.

• We will support enterprise hubs at Norwich Research Park and Hethel Engineering Centre, creating new hi-value jobs for local people.

• We will help local people make the most of these opportunities by creating education and training facilities.

Environment

• We will ensure that all new developments use resources efficiently, minimising greenhouse gas emissions and protecting the quality of local life.

• We will invest in a range of ‘green infrastructure’ projects, which will protect bio-diversity and wildlife, revitalise natural habitats and distinctive landscapes, and make best use of allotments, gardens and agricultural land.

We always welcome comments, queries and feedback so please do get in touch with us using the contact details below:

PO Box 3466,
Norwich,
NR7 7NX

Tel: 01603 430144

Email: info@gndp.org.uk

Many new jobs will be created to serve the new residential developments. For example teachers will be needed for the new schools and staff will be needed to work in the new shops. A lot of job growth will take place without taking up designated employment land as more people work in existing business permises or work from home. Research undertaken for the GNDP suggests the local economy had the potential to expand over the next 18 years.

All development will be accompanied by appropriate infrastructure provided in tandem with the development. In order to deliver this it will be essential for agencies to work together to provide services to support the development. Detailed work is going on the specify the exact infrastructure requirements of the strategy and indentify potential funding.

New infrastructure will be delivered using a variety of funding streams. This will include Government sources specifically targeted at delivery in areas of growth, existing funding streams for delivering major schemes as well as contributions from developers. Investment will be coordinated across a range of public agencies and utility providers to ensure best value for money.

We are planning for sustainable growth in the Norwich area, locating new developments in accessible places, developing a new high class system of public transport and ensuring that other infrastructure and services, like schools are also available. These measures will help to ensure that any traffic growth is kept to a minimum and is absorbed though sustainable modes of travel like public transport, walking and cycling. The Northern Distributor Road to the north of Norwich will provide opportunities to make improvements to traffic flow in the city centre.

All growth locations will be designed to be locally distinctive, healthy, sustainable communities. They should achieve a high level of self-containment while integrating well with existing communities. They will be designed around walking and cycling for local journeys and public transport for longer journeys. All development will be expected to maintain or enhance the quality of life and well-being of communities.