Plans for 460 new homes in Harleston spark fears town 'will not cope'

Plans to build more than 460 homes have sparked fears the area will not be able to cope with the extra population.

People in Harleston have contacted South Norfolk Council to raise objections to proposals from Saffron Housing Trust to build hundreds of houses and flats on land east of Mendham Lane.

They fear that roads, as well as the town’s schools, doctors and dental services, will not be able to handle the extra demand.

However, the trust says its plans have been robustly evaluated and that extra cash will be available to improve infrastructure.

Saffron wants to build 354 homes and 107 ‘extra care’ flats and bungalows, for people over the age of 55.

It also plans to create extra public open space, allotments and set aside four acres of land for community use. As part of a linked scheme, a new Lidl could also be built.

But Steve Tricker, 65, of Mendham Lane, said: “I appreciate the need for houses, but this is too many. It just feels like it is going to kill the town.

“We don’t have the infrastructure. You can’t get a dentist, while the doctors are at breaking point. I know people who can’t get their children into school here.”

Around 20 people have written to the council to raise concerns.

Another resident wrote: “These small town roads were not built to withstand the amount of traffic we see in our town today.”

Joe Bootman, head of planning at Saffron, said: “We understand there may be local concerns around pressure on services, such as healthcare and education.

“The suitability of all our sites, including the one proposed for Mendham Lane in Harleston, is rigorously evaluated through the planning process.”