We received the following email from Cllr Graham Plant, NCC:
“Following on from the great news in mid-October that we have received a funding commitment of more than £200 million from the Government for the Norwich Western Link, we’re getting this important infrastructure project moving forward again.
“We’ve published a cabinet report this afternoon with an update on the project and the proposed next steps, which include submitting the planning application early next year. While a lot of work had already been done on the planning application documents over several months, the project team are currently reviewing and updating these now that we have more certainty over the timing of their submission and the subsequent timings for the project.
“The cabinet report sets out what we will need to include in the planning application. These documents will be published in full after we have submitted them to the planning authority, which in this instance is Norfolk County Council, but this is an entirely separate part of the authority to the project team. The planning authority will then run their own statutory public consultation on the planning application, so everyone will have the opportunity to view and comment on the proposals at that stage.
“Once the planning application is finalised and submitted, the project team would then make and publish a Compulsory Purchase Order, for land required for the project, and a Side Roads Order, which would authorise the County Council as the highways authority to make alterations to roads and highways, including public rights of way. The cabinet report published today also gives details on these processes, and includes maps showing the land we will require for the project – whether on a temporary or permanent basis – and the existing roads that will need to be altered in some way.
“Due to the delay in receiving the funding commitment from central government, and also as a result of factoring in information that has been confirmed as the project has developed, the anticipated timetable for the project has been pushed back. It is now expected that initial works will start in late 2025, with the start of main construction works in summer 2026 and the road open for use in 2029.
“For the same reasons, the budget for the project has been revised to £273.9 million, an increase of £22.8 million from the previous budget agreed in July 2022. However, the Department for Transport have indicated that they could provide funding of up to 100 per cent of the costs set out at Outline Business Case stage, which stood at £251.1 million. If the government provided £251.1 million of funding, the local contribution required towards the overall cost of the project would be less than previously anticipated even with the overall budget increase.
“I know delays and cost increases are frustrating and I know many people want to see this road built now, to tackle the traffic problems that exist to the west of Norwich and so that the wide range of benefits it will provide can be achieved at the earliest opportunity. It’s the responsible thing to do to keep project budgets and timetables under review and to adjust them as more information is known, and to respond to wider influences. And it’s important to do this in order to put ourselves in a strong position to get this road built, and built in the right way.
“I hope this provides information that is helpful but, if you want to, you can also read the cabinet report on our website here – the link in full is also included beneath my signature. With government backing secured and the planning application documents in the process of being finalised, we are making good progress and getting closer to making the Norwich Western Link a reality.
“The cabinet report will be considered by me and my cabinet colleagues at a meeting on Monday 4 December, and I’ll email you again that day to make you aware of the outcome of the meeting and the next steps from there.”
Cllr Graham Plant
Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Infrastructure
Norfolk County Council
https://norfolkcc.cmis.uk.com/norfolkcc/CalendarofMeetings/tabid/128/ctl/ViewMeetingPublic/mid/496/Meeting/2055/Committee/169/Default.aspx
Ref No: 2023/3219
Proposal: Notification for Prior Approval for a proposed change of use and associated building works of an agricultural building to 5 dwelling houses (QA and QB)
Location: Agricultural Building South Of High Common Farm, Wymondham Road, Wreningham
Applicant: Mr Lee Devlin
Application Type: Prior Notification – Agricultural to Residential
A prior notification application for the above proposal has been received at South Norfolk Council. Details of the Case Officer and copies of the submitted plans can be viewed on-line using ref “2023/3219“.
As a Prior Notification application, the above development shall not be begun before the
occurrence of one of the following—
(a) the receipt by the applicant from the local planning authority of a written notice that prior approval is not required;
(b) the receipt by the applicant from the local planning authority of a written notice giving prior approval; or
(c) the expiry of 56 days without the local planning authority notifying the applicant as to whether prior approval is given or refused. This expires on 18 December 2023.
Should you require further details on the consideration of this prior notification, please contact the case officer, Tracey Meachen.
email: planning@southnorfolkandbroadland.gov.uk
online: www.southnorfolkandbroadland.gov.uk
post: The Horizon Centre, Broadland Business Park, Peachman Way, Norwich NR7 0WF
Related development
see the developer’s website.
A Temporary Traffic Order has been received indicating that Hethel Road will be closed from 8 to 14 November for 304m from the Church Road junction. This is to facilitate tree works by BT.
Prior to 2011 Wreningham did not have a mains sewage system. Many properties had either single or shared septic tanks. Residents had to make their own arrangements for emptying these tanks. For some this was an on-going problem as they were continually having to arrange for the emptying of their septic tanks to significant cost and inconvenience.
In 2011 Anglia Water installed a “First time sewage system” in Wreningham as part of their policy to reduce the number of septic tanks in the region. Instead of a gravity driven system, this project introduced a vacuum sewage system to serve Church Road, Hethel Road, Ashwellthorpe Road and Wymondham Road.
These pipes converged on a new main sewage pipe at the top of Mill Lane near the school. A pumping station was built half way along Mill Lane. It maintains the vacuum (or low pressure) which draws the sewage into the next part of the system. Here gravity takes the sewage through a new pipe to a pre-existing installation situated by Stephens Road in Top Row.
How does it work?
Image from airvac.com
The sewage pipe from the house uses gravity to deliver sewage to the chamber. This will trigger the trap to access the vacuum in the main pipe. This will then draw the sewage out of the chamber and away towards the pumping station in Mill Lane and from there onto the installation in Top Row.
- An animated YouTube video which shows how the vacuum system works in general – https://flovac.com/how-vacuum-sewerage-works/
- A detailed explanation is here – https://www.airvac.com/en/vacuum-sewer-system
- and from Anglia Water, here.
Am I connected?
Whilst many decided to connect to the system at the time of installation, not all did.
One sign that you are connected is that the property will be in receipt of a regular sewage bills from Anglia Water!
The most obvious sign that you are connected is two part:
- A metal inspection cover for the below ground sewage chamber. This is often within the property’s curtilage, however some are in or near the road.
- Note this may be shared by up to 4 properties
- A silver coloured, metal, cylindrical pipe set vertically in the roadside verge outside/near your property. “Anglia Water” is inscribed in blue on it with a designation number e.g. “B1”.
- This pipe is the visible component of a vacuum trap which connects to a sewage pipe.
Who do I contact if it is not working correctly?
This sewage system is managed by Anglia Water. You will need to contact them in the event of any actual or apparent system failure:
Telephone: 0800 145 145 / Email: Customerservices@anglianwater.co.uk
Michael Hill, October 2023
A new consultation has opened by the Greater Norwich Development Partnership inviting comments on the proposed Main Modifications which are required to the GNLP following submission to the Planning Inspectorate in July 2021.
There is a lot of documentation in the GNLP if you wish to review the whole plan. Specific mentions are made in the GNLP of places near to Wreningham: Hethel, Wymondham, Bracon Ash and Ketteringham.
Consultation is from Wednesday 25 October and will conclude at midday on Wednesday 6 December 2023.
The Inspectors’ final conclusions on the GNLP which will take account of representations submitted in response to this consultation. The Main Modifications have been subject to updated Sustainability Appraisal and Habitats Regulations Assessment which are also available to comment on along with Policies Map changes.
Representations should be made regarding legal compliance and soundness issues only. This is not an opportunity to reraise matters relating to other parts of the submitted GNLP that have already been considered by the Inspectors during the Examination or to submit further evidence. The Inspectors will only consider representations relating specifically to the proposed Main Modifications and other consultation documents before reaching their final conclusions on the GNLP.
The Partnership is also publishing Additional Modifications which it intends to make on adoption of the GNLP, along with other documents for information only. These are outside the scope of the Main Modifications consultation and comments are not invited on them. They do not form part of the Inspectors’ examination of the Plan.
Accessing the consultation documents
The consultation documents will be available to view on the GNLP website, www.gnlp.org.uk. Hard copy is available during normal office hours at:
- Broadland District Council and South Norfolk Council offices, The Horizon Centre, Broadland Business Park, Peachman Way, Norwich NR7 0WF. Mon–Fri 8.30-17.00 (by appointment).
- Norwich City Council, City Hall, St Peters Street, Norwich NR2 1NH (main entrance – please ask to be directed. Mon-Fri 8.45-13.00 & 14.00-17.00);
- Norfolk County Council, County Hall, Martineau Lane, Norwich NR1 2DH (by appointment);
- South Norfolk information point at The Octagon, Mere Street, Diss IP22 4AH (Mon-Fri 9.00-17.00).
Contact the GNLP team using the details below to make an appointment.
You can also view the consultation documents in Norfolk libraries using their computers.
Making Representations
The preferred way is online using the consultation system www.gnlp.org.uk. Alternatively, you can submit a response form by email or post: either download a response form from our website or contact us by email (gnlp@norfolk.gov.uk) or by telephone (01603 306603) to request one.
General Enquiries: 01603 306603 GNLP@norfolk.gov.uk
The potential new supplier (besides Open Reach/BT) County Broadband, seems to have gone rather quiet, according to some parishioners, after their big push to sign up interested parishioners nearly 2 years ago. We know that there are some works planned for tree clearing/pruning on some of our roads – but there is some doubt about whether these will actually happen.
In the meantime, Gigaclear have contacted the Parish Council to introduce themselves and discuss the broadband service they may offer in village. Two Parish Councillors have met a representative and have provided a short note:
“We held an interesting session with Andrew Lipski from a broadband provider called Gigaclear. They are looking to build an extensive full fibre broadband network across South Norfolk, and Wreningham is one of the villages included in their plans.
Gigaclear is currently undertaking their preliminary design stage of the network, and we should hear more from Gigaclear in 2024. A summary of their build process is outlined on their website:
https://gigaclear.com/locations?_gl=1*11sqoz7*_ga*MTUyMzc5OTUzMy4xNjk3MDUwODM0*_ga_90JVZCS308*MTY5NzA1MDgzMy4xLjEuMTY5NzA1MTAwNi4yOC4wLjA.&_ga=2.233261913.612600077.1697050834-1523799533.1697050834
https://gc-strapi-production.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/Locations_Community_Stakeholder_Brochure_2058c7e2d9.pdf?updated_at=2022-05-06T14:53:31.945Z“
Ref: 2023/3087
Applicant: Mr Leckenby
Location: High Common Farm Wymondham Road Wreningham Norfolk NR16 1AY
Proposal: Proposed agricultural access track
Application Type: Full Planning Permission
Please return comments, with the reference number, by 3 November 2023 to:
email: planning@southnorfolkandbroadland.gov.uk
online: www.southnorfolkandbroadland.gov.uk
post: The Horizon Centre, Broadland Business Park, Peachman Way, Norwich NR7 0WF
The text from an email sent to the Parish Council for sharing with parishioners:
Dear all,
I’m really pleased to tell you that the Norwich Western Link is a step closer to becoming a reality today as we now have a crucial funding commitment from central government for the project.
Today’s [mid October] announcement gives us a commitment from central government to fund the majority of the cost of the project and will bring an anticipated £213m of national investment into the county, with the potential for the government contribution to be uplifted to cover even more of the costs.
You’ll probably be aware that we’ve been waiting, and pushing, for this news for some time, so it’s great that ministers have listened and understood the importance of this new road link for Norfolk, and the wide range benefits it will bring to residents and businesses. It will, I’m sure, be a huge relief to the people worst affected by the traffic congestion on small roads and in communities to the west of Norwich, which is causing knock-on impacts and concerns about air quality, road safety and quality of life.
Now we have this funding commitment we can move the project forward. So what happens next? First of all, we need to finalise the planning application documents – these are already well-developed but we previously couldn’t finalise them given we didn’t know when we would be in a position to submit them. So we do need to do a final review and make any updates as appropriate.
A report will also be brought to the council’s cabinet containing an update on the project and details about the planning application, and I and my fellow cabinet members will be asked to approve submission of the planning application.
As ever, we still have some way to go on the Norwich Western Link and a lot of hard work ahead, but it’s fair to say we have achieved a major milestone with today’s news. It’s important that we continue to invest in transport infrastructure in Norfolk to support all kinds of journeys and accommodate planned growth. The Norwich Western Link, and the significant benefits it will bring to local residents, businesses and the Norfolk economy, is a key part of making sure Norfolk has the transport networks it needs.
Best wishes,
Graham
Cllr Graham Plant, Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Infrastructure, Norfolk County Council
Ref: 2023/2978
Applicant: Mr Justin Grady
Location: The Poplars, Ashwellthorpe Road NR16 1AW
Proposal: Change from brick to weather boarded finish, change in position and number of windows, add roof windows to barn (following approved permission 2019/0605)
Application Type: Listed Building Consent
Please return comments, quoting the reference number, by 24 October 2023 to:
email: planning@southnorfolkandbroadland.gov.uk
online: www.southnorfolkandbroadland.gov.uk
post: The Horizon Centre, Broadland Business Park, Peachman Way, Norwich NR7 0WF
Church Road will be temporarily closed (except for access) for tree maintenance to be carried out by BT. Details in the letter below: