Weston Homes has attributed the cancellation of plans to revamp a 1,100-home site in Norwich to the Conservative government, after investing eight years into the project.
The housebuilder identified several issues, including national planning interventions, changes to nutrient neutrality rules, and the impact of building safety reforms, as reasons for the Anglia Square scheme’s failure.
Bob Weston, chair and managing director, expressed personal disappointment at the loss of millions of pounds of investment, squarely blaming central government for the setbacks.
“The intervention of former housing minister Robert Jenrick, delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, and a nutrient neutrality directive from Natural England were among the hurdles faced.
High build cost inflation, changes in design guidance from the Building Safety Act, and community infrastructure levies further impacted the project’s viability. Despite gaining planning permission, the developer decided to abandon the scheme after a viability review, resulting in a significant financial loss.
Weston lamented the outcome, expressing sympathy for the city of Norwich, Weston Homes, and Anglia Square, while also acknowledging the efforts of the local council.
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) has been contacted for comment.
Source: housingtoday
