Published: Friday, 25th March 2022
A planning application for 226 much-needed new homes has been approved on the Parkway site in Gaywood.
The highly-sustainable scheme will help to address local housing needs as well as meeting government requirements for the borough to bring forward new developments.
Councillor Stuart Dark MBE, leader of the council, said: “This is an excellent scheme that delivers on many levels – addressing housing needs, affordability, sustainability and the highest environmental standards.
“By developing the site ourselves we have put together a scheme that shows what can be done in west Norfolk. We’re investing £1.7m in environmental measures that go above and beyond what is currently required so we can deliver some of the greenest homes ever built in the borough.
“It’s also close to almost all of the amenities King’s Lynn has to offer and that makes it a really sustainable site.
“We have listened to what local people told us about the original plan and have come up with a different approach. The new scheme covers a smaller area and we will invest in and improve on green space that would previously have been built on.
“I’m delighted this well-balanced scheme has got the go-ahead.”
The Parkway site has been identified as suitable for development for many years and was formally allocated in the Local Plan in 2016.*
It is a sustainable site because of its proximity to key amenities, including schools, shops, the hospital and Lynnsport. Additional measures will minimise car use on the development. These will include providing cycle stores for properties, enhancing green routes to amenities and schemes to promote take up of public transport.
The development itself includes 226 homes of sizes varying from 1-4 bedrooms, along with green space, landscaping and infrastructure. 15% (34) of the new homes will be affordable homes and 70% of those (24) will be for affordable rent.
The adjacent 4.7Ha site, which was included for development in the previous application, is now planned to become a wildlife site. Further to consultation with Norfolk Wildlife Trust, Natural England and the council's trees office, a draft enhancement plan has been prepared that will provide a biodiversity net gain for the site of more than 15%.
Councillor Richard Blunt, cabinet member for regeneration and development, said: “This is an excellent, high-quality scheme that will help to address the housing shortage in the borough.
“It is an exciting location where we can build not only homes but a community – somewhere people can live and play that is also close to amenities and a variety of jobs.
“It is a prime example of good development and exactly the kind of project we should be doing in this borough.”
Councillor Paul Kunes, cabinet member for the environment, added: “The homes at Parkway will boast a range of the latest eco features, including air-source heat pumps, underfloor heating and infrastructure for EV charging points. Many will also have solar panels fitted, and flood resilience and resistance are designed in.
“Work to enhance the environment around the site will lead to biodiversity improvements in the vicinity and we have made a commitment to plant at least three trees for every one that is removed.
“The town centre is a 15-minute walk away, even less by bike, and reached mostly on attractive, tree-lined paths. All of this reduces the need for people to get in their cars.
“This fits well with our commitment to combat climate change.”