Closed: Pinebanks sports ground.; Photo: Nick Butcher; Copy: Sarah Hall; For: EN; Archant © 2008; (01603) 772434

A school has given its backing to controversial plans to build over 200 homes in Thorpe St Andrew, as it is confident its students will feel the benefits.

In the latest Thorpe St Andrew School newsletter to parents and pupils, it has been highlighted that Thorpe St Andrew Town Council has backed plans for the developments of the Pinebanks and Griffin Lane sites in the town.

As previously reported, developers Ocubis have applied to build 215 homes on the Pinebanks site, off Harvey Lane, and 52 on the site off Griffin Lane, which was also purchased by Berliet Ltd last year. The plans are still being assessed by Broadland District Council’s planning officers and will not go before the council’s planning committee next month, although they could before the end of the year.

The school newsletter states: “The proposals, if approved in due course by Broadland District Council, would lead to a significant investment in new and improved sports facilities for the benefit of students at Thorpe St Andrew School and for the wider community.

“The developers have confirmed that about £1m in a Section 106 legal agreement for formal sports facilities would be delivered.

“This could be used to facilitate our new sports hall for which we already have planning permission.”

The newsletter goes on to say that the developers have also confirmed that subject to the plans being approved, £25,000 would be used to return two of the school’s unused grass pitches to proper use. There would also be £35,000 spent for the implementation of a cricket practice net area at Dussindale recreation ground, £80,000 for a new skate park at Dussindale and £400,000 for a new multi-purpose community hall at Griffin Lane. It adds: “We are excited about these proposals that could deliver a real step-change in sports and leisure facilities locally and there is still time for you to have your say on the plans.”

In response, a spokesman for the Friends of Thorpe St Andrew, which oppose the current plans, said: “While we understand Thorpe St Andrew School would welcome assistance in building a new sports hall, we would like to see fully adequate replacement sports facilities provided as part of these planning applications.

“The proposed sports ‘hub’ is not an adequate replacement for the centralised, easy to manage facilities that were lost with the closure and sale of the Pinebanks land for £2m by Norwich Union/ Aviva.”

- For more details of the plans, and how to submit your views, go to www.pinebanksproposals.co.uk

- What do you think? Write to Evening News Letters, Prospect House, Rouen Road, Norwich, NR1 1RE or email eveningnewsletters@archant.co.uk