Norwich Research Park, Colney. Photo: Bill Smith

What do you think? Fears over £26m Norwich Research Park expansion

Tom Bristow Wednesday, June 20, 2012
6:30 AM

A parish council has criticised the £26m development of Norwich Research Park on its doorstep, describing it as “speculative”.

In a letter to South Norfolk Council’s planning department, Colney Parish Council said it was supportive of the research park, but feared the expansion could lead to the NRP “losing it’s enviable reputation”.

Parish clerk, Hazel Martin, wrote:

“Colney welcomes, in principle, plans to expand the NRP but has serious concerns about the detail of proposals supplied so far.”

The council fears that once built pressure would be on to fill the new buildings which could lead to “lower calibre companies”.

In May the Government announced it would invest £90m into research at the NRP North which includes the John Innes Centre, the Institute of Food Research and the Genome Analysis Centre.

In a separate planning application for NRP South which includes the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, the parish council described the plans as “sketchy” and expressed concern over traffic.

It said: “The Thickthorn and B1108 interchanges are likely to be overwhelmed as a result of housing in the Bowthorpe-Cringleford-Hethersett-Wymondham corridor and access to the NRP and hospital compromised.

“Other parishes have referred to the lack of consideration being given to the cumulative effect of the NRP development.

“Colney Parish Council shares these concerns.

“It is essential that local communities are involved through the planning procedure, not just presented with what is seen as a ‘done deal’ between, planners, developers and landowners.”

Project Director at NRP Alan Giles said: “We welcome continued comment from local parish council members who are supportive of our proposals.

“We continue to keep parish council members and planners from local councils fully up to date with new information as our plans develop that we feel will address many of the concerns that may be raised.”

6 comments

This goes to the very heart of the Joint Core Strategy (JCS) and the desire, indeed need, to match employment opportunities with housing and infrastructure. SNUB have been campaigning for years for all three of these growth criteria to be matched. It makes no sense to build thousands of houses and a dual carriageway in the North East of Norwich when all of the employment opportunities are eithier in the South West of the city or along the east coast with the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) promoting the area as an employment growth spot for offshore industries. Local politicians need to wake up to the folly of splitting the three. Lets have a sensible JCS that matches up investments in infrastructure with employment. Spend the money earmarked for the NDR to restart the dualling of the A11 and to improve the A47 with proportionate dispersal of housing for the new workers.

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SNUB

Thursday, June 21, 2012
It wasn't that long ago Colney was a lovely, quiet rural area. Such a shame.

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smithy

Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Traffic could be alleviated and high-end cmopanies attracted by using a portion of the grant to build the a Magnetic Levitation shuttle system, linking the NRPUEANNUH with the center and train station, hopefully the first line of a future system connecting the whole city with itself and hinterland.

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Rogers of Norwich

Wednesday, June 20, 2012
it is a very good idea and the right place to be good luck to the Research park

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John Rayner

Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Sounds like a good idea to me. Just the sort of employment Norwich needs.

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Pushbiker

Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Shock horror - parish council opposes something on their doorstep.

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christoph

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

What do you think? Fears over £26m Norwich Research Park expansion

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