The Abbey Estate
Welcome to The Abbey Estate site! Here you can find all the information you need including our promise to you, FAQs, and the latest updates.
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The Abbey Estate: Outline Planning Application Update
In October 2025, Breckland Council refused the outline planning application. Since then, we’ve taken time to reflect, and we want to let you know that we are now appealing this decision.
We understand this will be welcome news for some and disappointing for others. Please know that we’re pursuing this because we care deeply about the long‑term future of the Abbey Estate.
We believe in the vision shaped through consultation, and we want to make improvements that benefit residents today as well as future generations who may one day call the Abbey Estate home.
What's next?
Since 2019, we’ve been talking and listening to residents of the Abbey Estate to find out what matters to them – what they like, what could be better, and what ideas they have for their community. Together with the community, we are co-creating a different future for The Abbey Estate, one that not only reflects people’s aspirations now but meets the changing needs of the generations to come.
Shaping the design for the Abbey Estate, together.
Ever since we began our conversations with local residents in 2019, community consultation and engagement has been at the very heart of developing a design for the Abbey Estate. Using the feedback we’ve received from residents over the years, we’ve shaped a design for the Abbey Estate which we hope will benefit the residents of today, and the future.
Abbey Insights is our quarterly newsletter keeping you up-to-date with what's been happening on the Abbey Estate. Click HERE for the latest edition.
You can find more regular updates and information on our Facebook page Abbey Engagement Updates.
A design for the Abbey Estate
The design for the Abbey Estate has been shaped by feedback we’ve received from residents. We always wanted to unite and not divide the community through any improvements which is why the design captures as many of the things that residents wanted as possible. This design could mean up to 540 existing homes are replaced with new ones, and up to 490 additional new homes are built too.
Supporting documentation
Neighbourhood Heart
A new community focussed neighbourhood centre at the heart of the Abbey Estate will offer new spaces for existing and future shops, a place to meet friends and family, and spaces for children to play. The new park would offer something for everyone: a space for local residents and visitors to enjoy.
Potters Path
Potters Path creates a clear, safe route to town, which is well lit and overlooked by new family homes. Connecting to the park in the heart of the neighbourhood, the route includes a series of pocket green spaces such as a community garden, food growing area, play space, and outdoor gym, with something to do for everyone.
The Riverside
This will see the riverside be enjoyed as a vibrant destination and an ecological and recreational asset to the Abbey Estate and the wider river space.
The Lane
Transforming the garage sites into a new lane – a safe, family focussed, pedestrian and cycle friendly street, with new highly efficient homes, trees, planting and play space. The lane connects the existing streets together and makes it easier for people to move around the Abbey Estate.
Canterbury Way
Canterbury Way will continue to be the main access and vehicle route through the Abbey Estate, but will be transformed into a safer, more attractive environment for pedestrians and cyclists alike. New trees on streets and high-quality homes will provide an attractive front onto Canterbury Way. There will also be improved gateways at the start of the Abbey Estate.
Forest Gateway
New energy efficient homes here will be set amongst the woodland. There will also be improvements to the public spaces that will make this area better for pedestrians and cyclists alike.
The Railway Edge
This will be a new green street connecting St. Albans Way to Guildford Way, and there will be space for play along the way. The homes here will be very efficient.
Rail to River
A new connection from rail to river will make it easier to get to the Riverside and will create more green open spaces across the Abbey Estate for people to enjoy.
Can’t find what you are looking for? Get in touch with us:
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You can email us at abbeyengagement@flagship-housing.co.uk
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Or you can call us on 0808 169 9301