Norfolk Showground's £2.3m food hall wins planning approval

The Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association's (RNAA's) project to showcase the county's food and drink producers has been approved by South Norfolk Council.

The 8,000sq ft new building, inside the main entrance gate near the A47 junction, includes a shop, café, butcher and delicatessen, along with an outdoor seating area and a two-acre market garden which would be the base for a community growing project.

The RNAA, which also runs the Royal Norfolk Show, said the proposals are part of a drive to maximise "the full potential of the showground".

Managing director Mark Nicholas said: "We are very pleased to have received planning permission for the new food hall and market garden and look forward to progressing the project in the coming months.

"We hope to be in a position to officially open the site in the second half of 2024."

The plans prompted some concerns from Easton Parish Council including traffic, public transport provision, the safety of the Dereham Road crossing, and the impact on other local farm shops and retailers, while Norwich City Council objected to food and drink retail in an "unsustainable" out-of-centre location.

But the council approved the plans - under delegated powers without being discussed by a planning committee - as the proposal was deemed to meet all district development policies.

An officer's report says the development "would create new investment and employment opportunities".

It adds: "Evidence has been submitted which demonstrates there are no more sequentially preferable locations and the site will be well linked to Easton and Costessey by pedestrian and cycle links and the proposed cycle route will improve access for cyclists from the Bawburgh direction and thus creating accessible job opportunities.

"Furthermore, there are no significant visual, highway, amenity or ecological impacts which would cause a conflict with any other policies within the local plan."