Whilst the opportunities for the area are exciting, there are some important issues which must be considered carefully and understood as the masterplan continues to evolve.
Flooding
You told us you were concerned about the flooding issues on the site. We have looked at flooding data to understand the areas most at risk. The masterplan has been informed by the distribution of these flood risk areas. As development comes forward, flood modelling and mitigation measures will be required to help minimise the risks of adverse impacts of flooding.
Utilities and infrastructure
The east Norwich sites, particularly the Utilities site, has a long industrial legacy. The site was once home to the Thorpe Steam Power Station which produced electricity for the city and wider region until 1975. An adjacent gas turbine station was built in 1964 together with an associated large circular gas holder. A large substation remains operational on site. Land contamination and a complex web of underground infrastructure must be addressed to allow future development on these areas.
Railway and associated activities
The mainline railway connecting Norwich and London passes between the Carrow Works and Deal Ground sites, over the River Wensum on the single-track Trowse swing bridge. The Tarmac Trowse Asphalt Plant, crucial to the maintenance of the County’s road network, sits alongside the track. However, the facility generates dust and noise which compounds the noise from the railway. This is a constraint which new development must take careful account of.
Access to the sites
The Carrow Works and May Gurney sites already benefit from vehicular access points. These can be used or remodelled to provide the access required to support redevelopment on those sites. The Deal Ground, and most particularly the Utilities site, are more constrained in terms of site access. New bridges across the River Yare and River Wensum are likely to be required to establish access to enable these sites to be developed.
