Great Yarmouth 4,350 home local plan progresses amid MP row

Great Yarmouth Borough Council has voted unanimously to progress with its local plan, a key document which stipulates where development can take place in the borough.

This includes the location of 4,350 homes to be delivered over the next 15 years to meet government-set housing targets.

MP Rupert Lowe vowed to stop Great Yarmouth Borough Council's local plan (Image: Facebook)

However, the policy drew criticism from Reform MP Rupert Lowe, who said he would "fight" to stop it being approved while also blaming "uncontrolled mass immigration" for the lack of housing and pressure on services like doctors and schools. 

READ MORE: Councillors say they feel 'unsafe' as row with their local MP escalates

Daniel Candon, Great Yarmouth Borough Council's cabinet member for economic development and growth, responded to Mr Lowe's criticism at a full council meeting last week.

READ MORE: Where 4,350 homes could be built in a Norfolk district

Ormesby Little Broad in Filby (Image: Newsquest)

"Our MP appears to have good business sense but he doesn't have a scooby doo how local governance works. 

"If we fail to adopt this, we could be at risk of developers building 10,000 homes.

"He should be focusing on his role as MP, seeking planning reform in Westminster instead."

READ MORE: Norfolk council under pressure to find 8,900 homes

Great Yarmouth town hall from across the river (Image: Archant Norfolk Photographic © 2014)

Several councillors praised the local plan, which includes plans to build a significant amount of social housing to tackle the current crisis that has caused a rise in people facing homelessness.

Others highlighted that it will help provide homes for their children and grandchildren to live in.

Tony Wright, Labour councillor, added that Great Yarmouth will need more homes if Mr Lowe is successful in his fight to revive the fishing industry in the town.

Gorleston and Great Yarmouth looking north (Image: Mike Page)

Yet concerns remain, particularly among the northern villages, that there needs to also be significant investment in infrastructure and facilities to support these homes. 

The local plan will now progress to the review stage and will be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate, the government department that presides over planning matters, for final approval. 

Mr Lowe continues to be critical of the plans and has vowed to raise the issue in Westminister.

He said: "I do not endorse the building of 4,350 new houses in the area, with little thought to the required infrastructure. I oppose this locally, and will continue to make my concerns clear regarding national policy in Westminster."

He has reiterated calls to "severely limit immigration" in order to reduce the need for new homes.

"Once this has been done, the need for vast amounts of new housing will immediately diminish," he added. 

READ MORE: Villagers worry how area will cope with huge boost in homes

WHERE WILL THE NEW HOMES BE BUILT?

The new local plan has been praised by councillors, which sets a blueprint for where future development can take place over the next two decades.

It helps restrict where construction can take place and sets out other policies such as how much a developer must pay in community infrastructure levy payments for facilities and services to help support the growing population. 

Major development sites include 1,100 homes west of Jack Chase Way in Caister-on-Sea, 600 on land off Links Road in Gorleston and 300 homes in Beacon Park, Bradwell.

People who have lost houses to coastal erosion are also set to benefit from 42 'roll-back' plots, which will be reserved for new homes built to replace those lost to the sea in Hemsby.

As well as more than 4,000 homes there are also plans to create a business park in Bradwell, a healthcare and community centre in Shrublands, Gorleston and an SEND school in Caister.