Plans to transform deprived estate submitted

A residents' association is being set up by people living on the Abbey Estate in Thetford

A planning application has been submitted to transform one of the most deprived housing estates in England.

The Abbey Estate in Thetford, Norfolk, was built in the late 1960s and early 1970s and has about 1,100 homes.

Housing association Flagship Group wants to improve about 540 existing homes and has pledged to create new energy efficient properties.

A spokesperson for the group said the scheme aimed to increase the supply of affordable homes but some residents were worried about their houses being demolished.

James Payne, regeneration director at Flagship Group, insisted that no-one would be forced to leave the estate if the proposals were agreed.

He said the group would redevelop the site in small sections, meaning families would be moved to other parts of the estate once they were completed, and the scheme would take place in phases over 20 years.

Flagship first started pursuing the redevelopment in 2019, with estimated costs thought to be about £250m.

A residents' association is being set up by people living on the estate.

Some residents have expressed concerns that they could lose their gardens, garages or parking spaces.

Flagship said plans for the estate had been developed based on community feedback

Chairman Peter Hawes said: "The outline planning application follows five years of talking to the people who have a home on the Abbey.

"Local people have told us that they do want to see improvements and they've let us know what things could be better."

The scheme includes plans to improve parking, lighting, pavements, play areas and green spaces and make walking and cycling routes to the town centre safer.

Mr Hawes added: "We are still at an early stage.

"Each phase of the detailed design will be informed by local people, through further consultation, with separate reserved matters applications submitted at each stage.

"Flagship has never undertaken a project with more engagement and consultation than this - but this is still the beginning.

"We're going to keep listening and speaking to residents in the weeks, months, and years to come."