Motion to spend £250,000 on Great Yarmouth brownfield land homes is debated

On Monday Norfolk County Council held a meeting to set its budget, with the council’s share of council tax rising by 5.99pc

At the meeting Great Yarmouth Mick Castle, leader of the recently formed Norfolk County Council Independent Group, called for £250,000 of the Norfolk Futures transformation budget to be dedicated to redevelopment of brownfield land in Southtown, Cobholm, North Quay and The Conge.

In an amendment to the budget he asked for the money to be spent on funding a dedicated officer team to engage with Great Yarmouth Borough Council and partner agencies to look at facilitating the development of more than 1,000 homes and ancillary retailing/leisure uses on brownfield sites.

Mr Castle, who represents Yarmouth North and Central, said: “I believe that the county’s expertise can now be deployed proactively to help Yarmouth take the next step to renewed prosperity.

“After years of heading the list of deprived areas we now see the emerging benefits to the local economy of new investment in the energy sector and a refreshed tourism offer.

“We need to translate that new optimism into improved housing for local people and the regeneration of our riverside brownfield sites in Southtown, Cobholm, North Quay and The Conge.

“I feel that this is just the kind of initiative that the Norfolk Futures transformation budget is set up to tackle. “Getting new homes close to the town centre, schools, shops, amenities and bringing new life to the town.”

The budget meeting saw Mr Castle asked to withdraw his amendment so it can looked at at a committee level by the county council.

Mr Castle has formed the new political group with King’s Lynn county councillor Sandra Squire, who is deputy leader.

Monday’s budget meeting saw the council’s share of council tax rise by 5.99pc to generate £4m, meaning someone living in a band D property will pay an extra £74.79 a year.

The meeting also approved £30m worth of savings.