Norwich, Hethel and Easton schemes set for cash boost

Council leaders have agreed the schemes, including in Norwich, Easton, Aylsham, Cringelford, Hethersett and Caistor St Edmund, should benefit from money raised through a tax on developers.

Members of the Greater Norwich Growth Board (GNGB) - made up of representatives from Norwich, Broadland, South Norfolk and Norfolk councils - confirmed the projects will get the cash when they met on Thursday (March 30).

The projects which will get the cash are:

• £2.8m for changes to Guildhall Hill and Exchange Street in Norwich - to create a public space between the Guildhall, Jarrold department store and the market.

The area between the Guildhall and Jarrold could be turned into a public space (Image: © ARCHANT NORFOLK 2009)

• £850,000 towards the regeneration of Norwich's Sloughbottom Park.
• £5m towards an £8.2m scheme to improve access to Hethel Technology Park, including a new roundabout.
• £250,000 towards a £900,000 3G pitch in Aylsham.
• More than £450,000 towards a new country park in Cringleford.
• Just over half a million for a new cycle route between Hethersett and Norwich Research Park.
• £500,000 towards a new village hall for Easton.
• £153,000 for a project to improve access to the Roman town of Venta Icenorum at Caistor St Edmund.

The Roman town at Caistor St Edmund (Image: EDP © 2002)

• Just over £133,000 to provide better access to Queens Hills Community Park.

The money comes from a sum generated by the community infrastructure levy (CIL), which is a 'tax' developers have to pay to councils.

That money is pooled and the GNGB decides how to divide it up among schemes which bring community benefits.

John Fuller, leader of South Norfolk Council (Image: Archant)

John Fuller, leader of South Norfolk Council and chair of the GNGB, said it was important to provide infrastructure alongside housing growth.

A further £2.5m will be given to Norfolk County Council to support its proposals to build new schools in the Greater Norwich area.