Projects in Diss and Long Stratton in line for growth funding

Projects in Diss and Long Stratton are some of 13 set to be funded by the Greater Norwich Growth Board (GNGB).

The unique partnership, made up of Broadland District Council, South Norfolk Council, Norwich City Council and Norfolk County Council, has awarded more than £4 million to the initiatives the board feels benefit communities.

Cllr Sue Holland, leader of Broadland District Council and chairwoman of the GNGB, said it was really exciting to see so many ambitious and forward-thinking projects being supported.

She said: “This investment will ensure that critical infrastructure is delivered that makes real and lasting improvements to the lives of our residents.

“I would like to congratulate everyone for their work in getting these projects off the ground.”

The Diss Leisure and Public Realm, which will be a new, two-storey dry-side leisure facility on the old John Grose site, south of Diss Mere, will receive £1.1m.

The site, which was purchased by South Norfolk Council in 2023, aims to increase accessibility to leisure provisions in the town and enhance connectivity between the town centre and Park Road, in the hope of helping to increase footfall.

The facility will include a 55-station gym, multi-use studio and spin studio with supporting facilities, as well as a café and car parking.

In addition to the construction of the leisure centre, works will also be undertaken to enhance the surrounding area to create a European-style public plaza overlooking Diss Mere.

The fund is also awarding £100,000 to Diss Library for accessible public toilets with baby changing facilities through a small extension and reconfiguration of the internal library space.

An accessible public toilet and baby changing facilities will also be put into Long Stratton Library after it was awarded £55,000.

With the improvements, the two libraries will provide users with updated facilities that meet UK building regulations accessibility requirements, as set out in the Equality Act.

The projects were chosen following a robust selection process. The amount of investment for each project is published in the Greater Norwich Five Year Investment Plan.

All 13 projects will now progress to each district cabinet ahead of a final funding decision, which will be made in early 2025.