An illustration of how the Abbey could look following the regeneration project

Additional information has been provided to an application to transform a Thetford neighbourhood following feedback from statutory consultees and other experts.

The Abbey Estate has been home to thousands of families since it was built in the late 1960s-early 1970s. Not-for-profit housing provider Bromford Flagship is now aiming to give its 1,100 homes a new lease of life through an exciting regeneration project – upgrading existing properties and adding new, energy-efficient homes for the next generation of families.

There are also plans to build a new neighbourhood centre with community facilities and improved green spaces and transport links.

Dave Armstrong, Bromford Flagship's chief operating officer, said: "We've been working closely with statutory consultees to provide the additional technical information they've requested. The unique scale of this regeneration means we need to provide extra assurance, and while that's taken time, we're committed to getting this right for residents."

Areas where extra information has been provided include traffic flow, sustainable travel, flood risk and drainage.

Further ecological information has been added, which includes an updated bat survey and more detailed assessments for biodiversity and the river Little Ouse.

Mr Armstrong reiterated this was still just a masterplan - a vision for how the Abbey could look - rather than a final blueprint.

He said: "We've applied for outline planning permission, and this sets the framework. The detail will come through later 'reserved matters' applications for each phase.

“These separate planning submissions will be shaped by further conversations with residents. They’ll determine everything from exact house designs and materials to parking layouts and landscaping schemes.”

Breckland Council will run a consultation giving both original consultees and the wider public chance to review and comment on the additional material.

Mr Armstrong said: "Planning for a transformation that could benefit the whole estate, plus bring the potential for hundreds of new homes, involves careful consideration at every stage.

“These refinements show the system working as it should and we're hoping for a determination sometime this autumn."
Bromford Flagship has undertaken extensive engagement with residents throughout the project, delivering regular newsletters to every household and creating over 75 separate opportunities for input including drop-in sessions, online surveys and exhibitions.

Four consultation rounds have heard from hundreds of residents with their feedback directly shaping the designs and priorities for the regeneration. Bromford Flagship has also been carrying out one-to-one conversations with residents in the first phase area, completing 50 conversations so far to address individual concerns and explain available support. It has also financed an Independent Tenant and Leaseholder Advisor, John Morris, whose appointment and oversight is managed independently by Citizens Advice.

For more information about the Abbey project, see here.