Swaffham boundaries to be reclassified

CHUNKS of Swaffham are to be reclassified as outside of a boundary around the town which prohibits development.

CHUNKS of Swaffham are to be reclassified as outside of a boundary around the town which prohibits development.

Proposals put forward as part of a new planning blueprint for the district would see areas including the Anthinghams and the former Hammonds playing field moved out of the settlement boundary of Swaffham.

They would also be reclassified as open space.

The changes are being made as part of drawing up a new local development framework (LDF), a planning blueprint being created by Breckland Council to help decide where homes and businesses go up to 2026.

The proposals were discussed and agreed by a meeting of the LDF task and finish group on Thursday.

Councillors in the group also discussed settlement boundaries in Watton.

Here the boundaries have moved out to include more land for development.

Changes include moving the following into the settlement boundary: land at the former RAF Watton site in Carbrooke, land at Teddar close, extending the settlement boundary at Field Maple Road, 116 Merton Road, land at Norwich Road, land in Akrotiri Square.

The following would be removed from the settlement boundary: Westfield Infants School and playing fields, open space at Bridle Road, land adjacent the Threxton Road Industrial estate.

Land at Thetford road, to the south of Tescos, was proposed to be designated as protected open space.

All the proposals still have to be finalised and will go out to public consultation, scheduled for April.