Council considering legal action over development

The £250m redevelopment would include the demolition and rebuild of hundreds of houses and 500 new properties

A council has threatened to take legal action if plans to demolish and rebuild a housing estate are approved.

The £250m redevelopment of the 1,100-home Abbey Estate in Thetford, Norfolk, would include the demolition and rebuild of hundreds of houses, and construction of 500 new properties, by developer Flagship.

Thetford Town Council has reiterated its objections ahead of a decision on the project to be determined on 16 October by Breckland Council and said it might push for a judicial review.

The town council's key concerns include fears freehold property owners could struggle to find new housing due to compulsory purchase renumeration likely to be lower than house prices in the town.

Opponents also raised concerns about a loss of green space affecting local biodiversity.

Terry Land, chairman of the town council's corporate services committee, said: "This is a development of huge consequence.

"We are determined to ensure the voices of Thetford residents are heard and decisions are made in a fair and transparent way.

"Exploring a judicial review is not a step we take lightly, but it reflects the level of concern."

The redevelopment would take place in phases over two decades, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The town council said it had told officers to seek advice from lawyers on the potential cost and timetable for pursuing a judicial review, should this be necessary.

Breckland Council planning officers are yet to publish their report for the application, in which a recommendation will be made to councillors to either approve or refuse the project.

The Abbey Estate was built in the late 1960s and early 1970s and falls within the top 10% of the most deprived neighbourhoods in England.

Flagship plans to redevelop the estate in phases over a 20-year period