08/01/2026: Council sets out new approach to support future house-building

Breckland Council's Cabinet Members are set to discuss a proposed new approach for the authority's Breckland Bridge partnership, which if approved will enable it to continue to support the delivery of much-needed housing in the district.

The partnership, a joint venture between the Council and The Land Group, has delivered housing schemes directly into the district's communities. This has created housing for local people while generating a return for the partnership, which, in turn, the council has used to support and deliver much needed local services. Since the partnership was created over a decade ago, more than £3 million has been generated for the residents and business of Breckland through a variety of housing, commercial, regeneration and land-related projects.

Breckland Bridge was instrumental in the £8m Thetford Riverside leisure complex which regenerated a key site in the heart of Thetford, brought new facilities to the town, paved the way for others in the public and private sectors to invest in the historic town centre, and helped to bring in further funding including £20m of Pride in Place national funding.

At a meeting of Cabinet on Monday (12 January), councillors will hear that due to the Government's Local Government Reorganisation plans, Breckland Council is expected to cease to exist from April 2028.  As a result, Breckland can no longer commit to directly delivering new developments as part of the partnership, as the partnership itself will cease to exist. 

Councillors will be asked to vote on proposals to shift the partnership's approach, which in the future will see Breckland Bridge focus on identifying suitable land owned by the council, progressing initial housing plans and obtaining planning permission, before selling the schemes to other developers that can take on construction and completion of the projects. This will enable the Council, and its successor, to continue to support the delivery of housing and land-related activities in the district in the short and longer term.

Members will also hear that the housing scheme currently underway in Colkirk was delayed when the main contractor, Wellingtons, went into liquidation in 2023. Subsequent changes in the housing market and obligations required under planning reform meant it that the original scheme as planned was no longer achievable. However, Breckland Bridge has resolved to complete the partially-completed scheme with a local contractor, Suiters, in order to deliver the 21 new homes in the area, including affordable housing, as originally envisaged and requested by Council Members.

Cllr Paul Hewett, Executive Member for Property, Projects & Procurement, commented: "Breckland Bridge has generated financial returns for more than a decade, bringing more than £3million back into the public purse. That's of course really important to the council, to the partnership, and to the residents we represent.  But the value isn't limited to just cash in the bank, it has meant much-needed housing has been built where others could not or would not build, and created more housing opportunities for local people.

"However, we recognise that nationally-led changes to local government and shifts in the housing market mean the environment today is very different to the one that existed when the partnership was formed more than a decade ago and we must be responsive to that.

"New challenges imposed by upcoming Local Government Reorganisation mean we cannot operate in the same way moving forward, but we can still play a community-led role in driving housing delivery.  We are also looking to transfer more of our land holdings to our communities, both to protect their current use and ensure those communities can make best use of them within their areas."

If approved at Monday's meeting, the proposed new approach will be presented to Full Council for consideration at an upcoming meeting.