South Norfolk Community Award Nominations 2025

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Nominations for the 2025 South Norfolk Community Awards will close on 30th May 2025.

Do you know someone who has given their life to helping the community, an organisation who has made a difference to people’s lives, or someone who’s little acts of kindness and support have a big impact in their local community, we want to know about it! If you wish to put in a nomination visit the website South Norfolk Community Awards.

The categories are:

  • Young Achiever Award – A young person (aged 18 and under) who has made an exceptional contribution to their community.
  • Community Organisation of the Year – A community organisation who has made a significant impact to the community.
  • Business in the Community Award – A local business or commercial organisation that has gone above and beyond to support the local community.
  • Volunteer of the Year – An individual who selflessly devotes their time and energy to the community.
  • Environmental Champion Award – An individual, school or community organisation who has made an extra effort to have a positive impact on the environment.
  • Connecting Communities Award – An individual, school or community organisation that has gone out of their way to encourage communities to come together and promote inclusivity.
  • Lifetime Achievement Award – A person who has dedicated over 20 years of their life to the community, volunteering for the benefit of others and deserves special recognition for their efforts and commitment.
  • Town or Parish Councillor of the Year – A Town or Parish Councillor within the South Norfolk District that has shown commitment and service to their community.
  • Healthy and Active Award – An individual, school or community organisation that has gone above and beyond in facilitating healthy and active lifestyles.
CA Poster 2025 finalDownload

Planning Application – Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) and infrastructure with landscaping – West of Wymondham Road, Bracon Ash

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Reference: 2025/0806
Applicant: Mr Poole
Location: Land West Of Wymondham Road, Bracon Ash [Road connecting B1113 to Flordon]
Proposal: The installation of a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) including associated infrastructure and landscaping
Application Type: Full Planning Permission

The Parish Council has agreed with South Norfolk that comments can be submitted by 14 May 2025.

Tel 01508 533813 / 01603 430509
planning@southnorfolkandbroadland.gov.uk

All the planning documents can be accessed here. Two of the documents provide an explanation of what is planned:

2025_0806-PROPOSED_SITE_LAYOUT_PLAN_PART_1_OF_2-8714503Download
2025_0806-STATEMENT_OF_COMMUNITY_INVOLVEMENT-8714505Download

Consultation – National Grid – Norwich to Tilbury

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Targeted consultations on proposed changes to Norwich to Tilbury – Thursday 30 January until Monday 3 March 2025

From April to July 2024, we held a public consultation, inviting local communities to share their views on our proposals. This period of formally consulting the public is called a ‘statutory consultation’ because it is required by the Planning Act 2008 for major infrastructure projects which need to apply for a type of planning consent called a Development Consent Order (DCO). You can find out more on our project website (nationalgrid.com/norwich-to-tilbury)

We are grateful for the feedback we have received from residents and community representatives across Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex. Following our public consultation, we have carefully reviewed all the feedback, and we have identified some locations where we could, potentially, make some changes to the proposals. 

Before we make any decisions, we are going back to consult with those people living near these proposed changes. We have a duty to develop the most appropriate proposal, taking account of feedback from local people and their representatives – including parish councils – alongside all the environmental and technical assessments.  

We are phasing the consultations starting with locations in Norfolk and Suffolk from Thursday 30 January until Monday 3 March 2025 and will follow up next month with locations in Essex and Thurrock. This is a non-statutory consultation – i.e. we are not required by the Planning Act to undertake this activity but we are keen to hear your views about the proposals. While these are local, targeted non-statutory consultations anyone can take part, and we have published all materials on our project website. 

Public webinars

To give everyone an opportunity to ask the project team questions, we’re holding three webinars via Microsoft Teams.  

You can sign up for a webinar on our website – nationalgrid.com/norwich-to-tilbury

  • Norfolk – 11 February 2025 at 6:00 pm 
  • Norfolk and Suffolk – 12 February 2025 at 12 noon 
  • Suffolk – 13 February 2025 at 6:00 pm 

Feedback

Feedback can be provided via our usual channels, by: 

Sending us an email: contact@n-t.nationalgrid.com  

Writing to us (no stamp required) at: FREEPOST N TO T 

Our online feedback questionnaire at: nationalgrid.com/norwich-to-tilbury

We also have a freephone project information line open Monday to Friday between 9 am and 5:30 pm: 0800 915 2497  

We will review all the feedback we receive and carefully consider it as we refine our proposals ahead of the submission of our application for a DCO later this year. 

If you would like further information or a briefing on the targeted consultations, please don’t hesitate to contact us. 

Yours faithfully    

Simon Pepper 

Project Director   

The Farthings Drop-in, 20th January 2025

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Thanks to Hughie, Mick, Sue, Liz, Mike, Karen and Jean at the village hall today. They set up (and took down) the Farthings’ documentation; served tea, coffee & bisuits; explained the presentations; and answered questions from those who dropped by.

The Drop In was an opportunity for villagers to examine all the documentation in one place and to see the definition of The Farthings at the point of transfer to community ownership. We have come a long way but the negotiations are not yet complete. The documents on view form part of the S106 agreement (being drawn up by solicitors) which will be ratified by South Norfolk Council, FWP Ltd and Wreningham Parish Council. These will be discussed, agreed and finalised over the next few weeks.

Available for inspection at the Drop In were:

  • Specification for Community Owned Land
  • A large plan view of the site
  • A Rossi Long produced surface water management scheme
  • List of community projects
  • Commuted sum calculations (this is designed to cover the annual running costs of The Farthings)
  • Logo art work.

We thank the visitors for their interest in the project; for closely examining the documentation; for re-stating their support for the project; and for their intent to help out when the time comes for hands-on activity. Two District Councillors attended and were complimentary about depth and breadth of the work of the Working Group; they expect this to be a successful project; it has their support and they look forward to it developing into a well-loved Wreningham site in the years to come.

The Farthings tab in the main menu, will be updated with additional information as it comes available. If you wish to be included in the email list please contact wren.farthings@gmail.com.

Christmas Tree 2024

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For the fourth year in a row we have had a Christmas tree decorated and lit for the festive season at the Reading Room. Feedback has been positive and many are pleased to see Wreningham’s Christmas Tree return for another year: “Looking the best this year. Simply lovely.”

50 people of all ages gathered at the Reading Room for the great switch-on, singing of carols and meeting Father Christmas. It was a grand, highly spirited occasion as everyone joined in with gusto and kept in tune despite my lead singing efforts.

The Parish Council has sponsored each tree and remains hugely proud and pleased with those who work hard to prepare for the great day. It is a team effort, our thanks go to:

  • All the Mums, Dads, Children and everyone else for being there and joining in
  • Nick, Keith, Davis and Mason selected the tree and brought it back
  • Andrew trimmed the tree and positioned it in the ground
  • Andrea and Hughie added the baubles and strings of lights
  • Several children finished off the decorating with their own touches and more baubles
  • Father Christmas – easily the main attraction (besides the tree!)
  • Noel looked after lights.

Decision: Planning Application – High Common Farm, Wymondham Road

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Decision: Approval with Conditions(Delegated) on 3 January 2025

DECISION__K_-8638536Download

Ref: 2023/3836

Proposal: Demolition of existing farmhouse, erection of new house and garage, formation of access road and change of use of land to residential curtilage

Location: High Common Farm Wymondham Road, NR16 1AY

Applicant: Mr Lee Devlin 

Application Type: Full Planning Permission 

Please return comments, with the reference number (2023/3836), by 19 January 2024 to:

email: planning@southnorfolkandbroadland.gov.uk

online: www.southnorfolkandbroadland.gov.uk

post: The Horizon Centre, Broadland Business Park, Peachman Way, Norwich NR7 0WF

South Norfolk Business Awards 2025

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Nominations for the Broadland and South Norfolk Business Awards 2025 are now open. These awards recognise and celebrate the amazing array of successful businesses in both our districts.

The full list of this year’s categories are:

  • Business Growth
  • Business Innovation
  • Employer of the Year
  • Environmental Impact
  • Food and Drink Producer of the Year
  • Excellence in Advance Manufacturing and Engineering
  • Excellence in Insurance, Financial and Professional Services
  • New Business
  • Small Business of the Year
  • Tourism Business of the Year
  • Pub of the Year – open for public vote only
  • Retailer of the Year – open for public vote only

Local businesses, please nominate themselves in one or more of the business categories.

Parishioners, please nominate your favourite Pub or Retailer of the Year.

Further details of the categories and the nomination forms can be found at www.southnorfolkandbroadland.gov.uk/businessawards. 

Nominations close on Friday 13th December and winners will be announced on 19th March 2025 at an awards event at Norwich City Football Club.

Sarah Cooke, Economic Development Officer
e sarah.cooke@southnorfolkandbroadland.gov.uk , T 01508 533763

Recycling Centre – You must book a slot to visit

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From 18 November


Everyone will have to book a slot in order to visit a Norfolk recycling centre.  For more information phone: 0344 800 8020 or visit: www.norfolk.gov.uk/recyclingbooking  
Reasons for the change:

  • Reduce congestion
  • Reduce waiting times
  • Reduce the risk of traders disposing of waste without paying
  • Save the council money by spreading customer visits across our opening hours

The Farthings Community Group

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Planning applications do take time to process and until very recently we were not sure that this project was going to happen. However, as you may have seen on this website, the SNC planners have now indicated they will use delegated authority to give FWP Ltd approval to proceed with their planning application.

Finally we are able to think about about the anticipated community project: the development of The Farthings. You will have seen in the planning application the first plan for this space. Now we need to define what that space will look like upon its legal transfer to the Parish Council and then to discuss what could be done subsequently to develop The Farthings into a valuable community asset.

You are invited to the first of a series of meetings of the Farthings Community Group. This will define how the community is to use this land and create plans to achieve these aims. The first meeting is on

Tuesday 8th October at 7.30pm in the Margaret Preston Room

Agenda

  • Background
  • The Farthings Community Group
  • Shape of The Farthings for transfer to Parish Council
  • List community objectives / projects (short, medium and long term)
  • Personal commitment(s)
  • Next Meeting and Objectives

We will schedule another 3 meetings to develop this further. They will be on the three subsequent Mondays at 7.30pm, same place. 

Michael Hill

Chair, Wreningham Parish Council