Some 70 years after first being proposed, new proposals for a village bypass in Norfolk have been submitted.
The scheme, which will be in Long Stratton, will include 1,800 new homes near the village as well as a bypass that runs to the east, relieving the levels of traffic in the process.
Two schemes, which total 380 acres (154 hectares) have been submitted by developers Norfolk Homes and Norfolk Land to the South Norfolk Council.
These plans will also include land for businesses, as well as public open space.
Given that the A140 currently ploughs straight through Long Stratton, villagers have campaigned for a bypass for very long time.
Speaking behalf of the developers, a spokesman declared that they were “delighted that the applications for this exciting project” had finally been submitted to the council, while adding that there is still an awful lot of work to get through before things progress as planned.
“Whilst the registering of the applications is a big step forward, there is still a significant amount of work to be done to guarantee the delivery of this much-needed infrastructure and housing,” he said.
“We are relishing the prospect of advancing the applications through the planning process.”
In addition, the spokesman stated that the bypass will be part-funded by the developers, however, there are still other elements of funding that will be needed to fully complete the project.
John Fuller, the South Norfolk Council leader, also weighed in on the project, and expressed his delight for the people of Long Stratton that it finally appears like there may be movement in relation to the bypass, however also did his best to make sure people were kept grounded by reiterating that it’s still very much in its infancy.
“This is great news for the people of Long Stratton who have waited so long for a bypass, but we are still at a very early stage in the planning process,” Fuller said.
“The council recognises the importance of providing infrastructure alongside the essential housing growth of 1,800 new homes, as can be seen not only in the provision of a bypass but also in our £2m investment in Long Stratton Leisure Centre.
“The bypass will help remove congestion and provide a better environment for residents while also offering potential commercial opportunities, growing Long Stratton from a large village to a small town.”
