Shaping the future of your town

Your views shaping Watton and Swaffham’s futures

Exciting new proposals for the futures of Watton and Swaffham have been drawn up following comments from local residents. As part of Breckland Council’s ongoing ‘Future Breckland’ project, residents, businesses, and community groups were recently invited to share their views on what is already great about the towns and what should be prioritised for improvement.

Based on the feedback received, the urban regeneration experts we’re working with have now drawn up some proposals to enhance the towns, and we’ll work with our partners to agree a shared vision for delivering the changes over the coming months and years. Watton proposals include:

• Enhancing how community groups across four locations work together • Improving the town centre shopfronts and increasing connectivity • Rejuvenating Loch Neaton, offering access for swimming, fishing, boating and leisure pursuits • Themed events or festivals to celebrate Watton • Making the high street more accessible

Swaffham proposals include:

• Enhance the town centre by changing traffic flow and cycle routes • Trialling partial pedestrianisation schemes • Reinvigorating the marketplace and installing public art • Creating more employment opportunities and light industrial space on Turbine Way • Improving leisure services and build a new culture and arts hub

Get involved

The Future Breckland project initially saw engagement events carried out in Dereham, followed by Watton and Swaffham. Residents in Thetford and Attleborough are now being invited to share their views on their town so similar proposals can be developed. You can view the draft plans for your town or check out upcoming opportunities to have your say at www.breckland.gov.uk/Future-Breckland

Investing in Thetford’s regeneration

We are in the process of purchasing Riversdale, a property on Tanner Street in Thetford, which will help support the ongoing regeneration of the town. As part of our Future Breckland programme, and by working with the local community, we will be looking to use the location to help regenerate the town centre.

As part of our Thriving Places agenda, we are working across Breckland to enhance our towns and villages and create the right conditions for businesses to thrive and grow.

£700,000 to help businesses bounceback

Our Business Regeneration Team have been working hard to support local hospitality, leisure and accommodation businesses with a new centrally-funded Covid-19 business grant. Over 300 Breckland businesses have been provided with financial support, totalling over £700,000.

This scheme was designed nationally to support businesses cope with the impact of Covid-19 on trade. Breckland Council was the first council in Norfolk to administer this support, ensuring local businesses were provided with vital financial support when they needed it most.

Have your say!

Watton Town Council has started the consultation of its ‘Neighbourhood Plan’.

This plan will be used to inform decisions made by Breckland Council on planning applications for the local area, so your comments are important. Visit

www.wattontowncouncil.

gov.uk to read the plan and submit your comments – either supporting or objecting – by April 8th 2022.

New plan for New Buckenham

The New Buckenham Neighbourhood Plan, which outlines how land in the area should be used, has now finished its ‘examination’, or independent testing, period.

We are in the process of deciding whether it is in a position to take forward to a public referendum so people in the local area can vote whether or not to adopt the proposals. If so, we will write to let the residents in New Buckenham know about this soon.