Harleston to get 162 new homes as fears mount over services

The major development in Harleston secured full planning permission from South Norfolk Council this week following initial approval in October last year.

Final sign-off was delayed while the applicant, Orbit Group Ltd, negotiated a Section 106 agreement setting out legal obligations on affordable housing, open space and travel planning.

The scheme will see 162 properties, all of which are classed as affordable, built on land south of Spirketts Lane.

The land earmarked for 162 new homes (Image: Google Maps)

The agreement, alongside 24 planning conditions, aims to address some of the concerns raised by locals and Harleston Town Council throughout the planning process, who fear that the development will put too much pressure on public services.

Due to the plans' fully affordable nature, however, Orbit is not required to make any contributions for schools or primary healthcare.

Concerns have been raised the extra 162 homes come at a time when a number of other major housing developments are in the pipeline.

There are also plans for 89 homes north of Spirketts Lane and another 354 east of Mendham Lane at Briar Farm.

Plans for new housing in Harleston were given the initial green light in October (Image: Sonya Duncan)

If all 700 homes are built, the town’s population, which is currently around 6,000, would rise by nearly 30pc.

Healthcare provisions have been a key point of debate, with the town council arguing that the local surgery lacks capacity.

However the Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board, which oversees NHS resources, has said it would be able to accommodate additional demand.

Harleston is currently home to around 6,000 people (Image: Adrian Judd)

Traffic concerns have also ben raised, with critics warning Spirketts Lane is already too narrow and unfit for an increased number of vehicles.

Conditions attached to the initial approval required a new three metre wide footway and cycle path next to the site, an extended 30mph zone and other off-site improvements.