Can Cringleford services cope with Norwich housing boom?

With plans in place for over 1,300 homes and a new 420-place primary school, the community is one of the fastest-growing areas in Norwich.

But concerns have been raised by community leaders over a lack of infrastructure - including schools and GP surgeries.

"We're happy to be getting the new primary school," said Sonya Blythe, clerk of Cringleford Parish Council. 

Sonya Blythe, clerk of Cringleford Parish Council (Image: Sonya Blythe)

"But many are keen on a new doctor surgery. 

"The only thing we have been offered so far is an expansion of the Hethersett surgery, but that doesn't really help us."

And some remain optimistic that an £800,000 country park could still be delivered across 40 acres of land in the Yare Valley.

"We're supportive of land being bought for open spaces rather than more development," added Ms Blythe.

"But at the moment we can't say anything more than that."

The village has seen three major housing projects approved since 2019, with more possibly on the way over the next few years.

An aerial view of Cringleford (Image: Mike Page)

And the latest data from the Office for National Statistics estimates Cringleford's population has risen from 2,360 in 2001 to 5,386 in 2021. 

"It is absolutely essential that new housing is delivered if we want young people to be able to own their own home, and access the high skilled jobs available at the hospital, research park and university," said Daniel Elmer, a Conservative district councillor for the area.

"However, we need to make sure that the right infrastructure is delivered with the new housing, so these developments work for everyone in the community.

"The new school, and expansion to Hethersett Academy, are part of this. Supporting the parish council to deliver a new country park is another.

Daniel Elmer, Conservative South Norfolk District councillor for Cringleford (Image: South Norfolk Council)

"Now we need to go further and ensure an expansion to the Humbleyard Practice is delivered, so everyone in Cringleford, Hethersett and Mulbarton can quickly see a GP.

"If we can deliver all of these, the whole community, new and old, will benefit from quality housing, outstanding education, green country spaces and excellent job opportunities - all while accessing a GP."

Norfolk County Council had applied to itself for permission to establish the new school on land off Colney Lane, near the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.

Plans for a new 420-place primary school in Cringleford were given the green light in April (Image: NCC)

And officers at County Hall used delegated powers to approve the plans.

But while there were no objections, Cringleford Parish Council raised concerns about arrangements for dropping off and collecting children.

Labour representative for the area at South Norfolk Council, Deborah Sacks, welcomed plans for the new primary school "to support the development in Cringleford".

"This is sorely needed since parents in Cringleford are already finding it difficult to get places in the existing school for their children," she said. 

"This is of course partly a result of the lack of proper planning for infrastructure, including school places, arising from the dismantling of the strategic planning system and the lack of a proper system to deliver the infrastructure to support new housing in Norfolk.

Deborah Sacks, Labour cllr for Cringleford at South Norfolk District Council (Image: Newsquest)

READ MORE: £10m boost for Norwich, Cringleford and Hethersett projects

"I also have a great deal of sympathy for the case made by the parish council regarding traffic management in the area, since Norfolk County Council have such a poor record in delivering a good outcome for managing the traffic around schools in the area.

"For example, there are no buses near the existing Cringleford Primary School because of traffic congestion and the inability of buses to penetrate the estate at school arrival and pick-up times.  

"So most of the estate is not serviced by any buses because of poor transport planning by the county council."

Just over 40 acres of land in the Yare Valley, next to the University of East Anglia woods, is earmarked to become a country park (Image: Google Maps)

Cringleford is among areas such as Sprowston and Hellesdon that fall under the Greater Norwich Local Plan (GNLP).

The GNLP is a blueprint for where 50,000 new homes could be built in Norwich, South Norfolk and Broadland by 2038.

Under the scheme, which took three years to complete, plans are already in place to build 1,700 new Cringleford homes on land in areas near the A11 and St Giles Park.

Norwich growth

Cringleford is among areas such as Sprowston and Hellesdon that fall under the Greater Norwich Local Plan (GNLP).

The GNLP is a blueprint for where 50,000 new homes could be built in Norwich, South Norfolk and Broadland by 2038.

Under the scheme, which took three years to complete, plans are already in place to build 1,700 new Cringleford homes on land in areas near the A11 and St Giles Park.