Broadway Enterprise Park near Norwich Airport Approved
Published:
2:54 PM May 18, 2022
A massive multi-million pound business park near Norwich Airport has been given the green light.
The Broadland Planning Committee has approved an application to develop a 92.63-acre site – about the size of 37 rugby pitches – off the NDR, which the developer promises could create more than 1,000 jobs.
The Broadway Enterprise Park, which will lie between Horsham St Faith and the airport, will be used for new industrial warehouses and offices, a petrol station, two drive-in restaurants, a car showroom and a park- shell.
Crowds see plans for Broadway Enterprise Park in 2019, which helped shape the plans as they were prepared Photo: Lauren De Boise.
– Credit: Lauren De Boise
The exact layout and uses will be showcased in future applications, with a recycling center already built on the site by Norfolk County Council.
The site is largely undeveloped farmland, but an area to the southeast was once part of the Norwich Airport runway.
At a planning meeting on Wednesday, Councilor John Fisher questioned the need for a 1,000-space park-and-ride facility as Norwich car parks are not fully full – with another park site – o-bus currently less than two miles from site.
Mr Fisher said: “At the moment you can park anywhere in Norwich – every car park is half empty.
“With Covid developments and people not going to work like before, what would be the alternative?”
John Fisher, a councilor from Broadland
– Credit: Norfolk County Council
An officer said there was a ‘degree of uncertainty’ in the park and ride facility and if he didn’t show up the land would find another use.
Before the meeting, Norwich City Council opposed the plan, arguing that having offices outside the city could undermine the centre.
The authority’s representation said: ‘Offices are a primary use in the city centre.
“Norwich City Council has commissioned a review of office space in Norwich.
“The report concluded that the office market in Norwich is fragile and that the city center is the most suitable location for employment space.”
Comments were also received from three residents, who argued that the development was not in keeping with the rural area, could impact wildlife and that there was no need for another park-o -bus.
An aerial photograph showing where Broadway Enterprise Park would be built
– Credit: Mike Page
Paul Knowles, director of Building Partnerships, the group behind the plans, said the scheme would meet the council’s aspirations for jobs and economic development in the area.
Mr Knowles said they expected only around 10 per cent of the job space would be used for offices, partly due to reduced demand by Covid, the rest of the area being used for warehouse and industry.
The candidacy was approved unanimously.