OVERVIEW
Saxon Fields is a 50-home residential development in the village of Woodton, South Norfolk, delivered by a collaboration between Crocus Homes, ESCO Developments and EA Mayhew and Sons. The scheme comprises a mixture of bungalows and houses, with 17 affordable homes and three custom-build plots. The development also includes open spaces, a trim trail and a community orchard, with new footpaths connecting the new homes to the local school and to the village via Woodyard Square.
CREATE’S ROLE
Since 2021, we have been part of a multidisciplinary team alongside Brown&Co, WT Design and Liz Lake Associates, providing specialist technical services across Transport, Flood Risk, Geo-environmental and Utilities. We initially supported the feasibility stage before progressing through to provide technical assistance throughout the planning stage.
Our roles, technical services and outputs included:
- Phase 1 Contaminated Land Assessment
- Proposed Highway Improvements
- Proposed Access Strategy
- Site-Specific Flood Risk Assessment (FRA)
- Refuse and Waste Management Strategy
- Energy Statement
- Water Statement
- Utilities Assessment
- Materials Management Plan
- Mineral Resource Assessment
- Phase 2 Geo-Environmental Assessment
- Transport Assessment (TA)
CHALLENGES
The project involved overcoming significant highways challenges, both in terms of improving connectivity to the site for walking, cycling and public transport users, and addressing sub-standard visibility at the site’s main gateway junction onto the wider network. Any intensification of use of the existing junctions without major intervention would not have been acceptable to the Highway Authority. The site also needed to be made substantially more accessible for non-motorised users, particularly for trips to and from the settlement’s primary school.
The solution involved a comprehensive package of off-site highway improvement measures, designed by Create working around third-party land constraints and developed through extensive negotiation with the local Highway Authority. The agreed package of works will be delivered as part of the implementation of the planning permission.
ACHIEVEMENTS AND BENEFITS
Our technical input across Transport, Flood Risk, Geo-environmental and Utilities supported the successful progression of the planning application, which received a resolution to grant approval from South Norfolk Council in August 2024. The scheme will deliver 50 new homes for the village of Woodton, including 17 affordable properties, alongside meaningful community infrastructure including new pedestrian routes, open spaces and a community orchard.
