News

Broadland, in partnership with Orwell Housing and Great Yarmouth Borough Council are delighted to gain planning permission for 82 new homes at The Conge in the centre of Great Yarmouth.

This exciting project will see 82 new high-quality homes, creating a key gateway linking the railway station and the Market Place. The plans including new landscaping and trees, with improved pedestrian and cycle ways. The design includes open spaces and will see two courtyards for residents and a small pocket park.

The new scheme will have a mixed of apartments, semi-detached and terraced housing, all designed with careful attention so that reflect the character of historic Great Yarmouth.

Andrew Savage, Executive Development Director at Broadland said

We are excited to work in partnership with Orwell and Great Yarmouth Borough Council. We hope this will be first of many projects strengthening the redevelopment of the local area. We see a brighter future with further opportunities to develop more housing in the area, building communities for local people

The new homes will integrate with the existing street gride and improve safety with the parking provision designed to reflect the sustainable location of the site. Walking, cycling and public transport facilities are all close by.

Greg Dodds, Assistant Director of Development and Growth at Orwell Housing added

We look forward to delivering this high‑quality housing scheme and playing our part in regenerating a historic part of the town. This development will provide much‑needed homes, transform the area, and help stimulate the local economy.

Work has started on 19 new homes in Little Snoring. These new homes, for local people will be a mixed tenure scheme. Nine homes will be for social rent, with 2 offered on a “rent to buy” scheme. The other nine homes will be for open market sales, the proceeds will be used to subsidise the affordable homes.

These rural homes will be built to the high environmental standard, with solar panels, air source heat pumps and high levels of insultation. The homes will have an EPC rating of A, making them affordable to heat.

Jenny Watson, Chair of Broadland said:

We are very happy to be building homes for local people here in Little Snoring.  Like many villages in north Norfolk, there is an acute shortage of affordable homes here. “We are especially pleased to be able to offer the affordable rental homes at social rent, a lower level of rent which equates to approximately 60% of market rents.  Coupled with the energy-efficiency of these new homes, that means they will be truly affordable.

Broadland are working in partnership with North Norfolk District Council. Cllr Wendy Fredericks, portfolio holder for housing and people said

We are delighted once again to be working with Broadland Housing to provide affordable homes for local people in our district.

Aspen Build added

We’re proud to be working in partnership with Broadland Housing to deliver these much-needed homes for the Little Snoring community. We share Broadland’s commitment to creating high-quality, sustainable homes that make a real difference to people’s lives. This project is about helping to strengthen the local community, providing energy-efficient homes that are affordable, and creating a place where people can thrive for generations to come.”

The keys to five new affordable homes in West Beckham have been handed over to families with a connection to the village and adjoining parishes – with five more due to be handed over.

At an onsite ceremony, Broadland Housing Association chair, Jenny Watson, and Cllr Wendy Fredericks, deputy leader of North Norfolk District Council and Portfolio Holder for Housing and People Services, handed over the keys to the first resident, Sarah MacDonald, who is moving into her new home with husband Stuart and two children, Maria and Aidan.

Affordable Homes

The Church Road site consists of one four-bedroom house, three three-bedroom houses and one two-bedroom house. They are in the style of a traditional farmhouse and converted barns, with a wildflower area and public open space being built onto the site.

A further four two-bedroom bungalows and a one-bedroom bungalow have been built at a second site on Sheringham Road in the village – these will be handed over within a few weeks time. 

All of the new homes, which are being made available for affordable rent, have been prioritised for people with connections to the village and adjoining parishes.

They will be built to a high environmental standard, with air source heat pumps, photovoltaic panels and electric charging points all contributing to a ‘B’ EPC rating.

Partnership Working

The project was made possible through a partnership between Broadland Housing Association, North Norfolk District Council, and Homes England, as part of a wider package of six Broadland Housing ‘local need exception housing’ schemes across North Norfolk district.

Additionally, the project received financial support from surpluses generated by Broadland St Benedicts – a subsidiary of Broadland Housing – which constructs and sells homes on the open market within the county and allocates 100% of its profits to fund the development of new affordable housing.

New Residents

Receiving the keys to her new home, Mrs MacDonald said,

We were blown away when we first saw this house, we couldn’t believe our luck. We are currently living in a cramped, damp house which is suffering from mould. 

The energy-efficiency side is massively important, because we have been really struggling where we are, where we have oil central heating.  It doesn’t matter how long you have the heating on for, it’s cold in the winter.  This house is well-insulated and will be much cheaper to run.

This new home is light, it’s airy, it’s spacious. We feel like we have won the lottery.”

Broadland Housing Association chair Jenny Watson said,

Homes are fundamental to everything we do in our lives, they make everything else possible. Proving homes for people is Broadland Housing’s enduring purpose, so I am really pleased that this new development is able to contribute to that.

This has been a real partnership effort.  I particularly want to think West Beckham Parish Council, which wanted to keep local families in the village; the whole village was really supportive all the way through the process.

I also want to thank North Norfolk District Council for finding the land on which we could build this.  We also couldn’t have got here without the grants from Homes England and the section 106 contributions from North Norfolk District Council.”

Cllr Wendy Fredericks added,

I was brought up in council housing, and I know how important it is to have somewhere affordable to live.

This is a stunning development. We know that Broadland tenants will always look after their houses because they are such high quality.”

The new homes were designed by CAM Architects and built by Smith of Honingham.

Enhancing Collaboration and Regional Influence: Independent East appoints Head of Independent East Partnership

Independent East is pleased to announce the appointment of Louise Hillier as Head of Independent East Partnership, a newly established role designed to represent and advance the collective interests of the regional alliance of five housing providers: Broadland Housing Association, Freebridge Community Housing, Havebury Housing Partnership, Orwell Housing Association and Saffron Housing Trust.

This appointment comes at a pivotal moment for our region, as Norfolk and Suffolk undergo structural changes in governance through devolution, local government reorganisation and the appointment of a mayor for the new Combined Authority.  Recognising the importance of a unified voice and coordinated strategy, the Chief Executives of Independent East have endorsed this role to promote, celebrate and identify further opportunities to collaborate and share intelligence and best practice. It is also imperative to work with our local authority colleagues during a time of change and prepare for devolution, helping to strengthen Independent East’s influence in regional decision-making.

Louise brings a wealth of experience to the position, having previously held roles at Eastlight Community Homes, Flagship Group, BuildEast, and Victory Housing Trust. Her deep understanding of the housing sector and commitment to regional development make her an ideal choice to drive forward Independent East’s strategic goals.

Michael Newey, Chief Executive said

I am pleased to welcome Louise to Independent East. Her appointment reflects our shared commitment to enhancing services for residents and supporting our local communities through deeper collaboration across our five associations, while preserving the independence and distinct strengths of each organisation.

Work has started on four new affordable homes at Shipfield, the first site Broadland built back in 1966!

Turning old, disused blocks of garages into 4 new 2 bedroom flats. The new homes are possible through funding from Norwich City Council, which has allocated capital from its Right to Buy sales receipts.

The new homes will have an electric vehicle charging point. Two of the new homes net zero carbon, whilst the other 2 will have an EPC rating of A.

Broadland’s Chair Jenny Watson said

This is a good example of taking every available opportunity to create much-needed new homes.  We have taken two under-used garage blocks and are building four new affordable homes. “Once again we are working in partnership with Norwich City Council to make these new homes possible – all part of our continuing drive to tackle homelessness.

Cllr Mike Stonard, leader of Norwich City Council, said:

We’re pleased to support this project using Right to Buy receipts to help meet local housing need. By working in partnership with Broadland Housing Association, we’re making the most of a small site to provide good-quality, affordable homes for people in Norwich. These new flats at Shipfield will replace outdated buildings and offer better housing options for residents now and in the future. 

It is expected that these new affordable homes will be completed in Spring 2026.