
Plans for hundreds of new Rackheath homes pass another hurdle
Following its approval in 2023, the plans for 300 homes had to be reconsidered due to the adoption of the Greater Norwich Local Plan (GNLP).This earmarks land where councils consider the construction of new homes and the creation of jobs could be acceptable.The GNLP includes the allocation of land for 10,000 new homes in Norwich and opens the door for hundreds more homes to be built in places such as Rackheath, Hellesdon, Drayton, Taverham, Wymondham and Thorpe St Andrew.Inclusion of sites in the plan makes it more likely that councillors will grant planning permission for proposals on that land.The application returned to the planning committee this week to be reconsidered against the requirements of the GNLP. Issues looked at were "safe and convenient" access and provision of appropriate local facilities.The proposals were considered to comply with the policies, although some matters will need to be considered separately in a more detailed application, due to be submitted by the developers.Jo Copplestone, a Conservative councillor, added: "It is great that we are going to start seeing building works on the site shortly."It is expected the new housing developments will transform the village, bringing significant growth to a community which has a population of about 2,200.
Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Belfast Telegraph
10 minutes ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Fighting over the scraps: Are big-bucks global food chains pushing local players out of business?
Deep-pocketed foreign brands such as The Ivy and Popeyes are muscling in as local restaurants are hit by cost-of-living slowdown A wave of high-end international restaurants and fast-food brands is breaking through the Irish market, despite domestic players feeling the heat of an industry 'slowdown' amid the cost-of-living crisis. Several global foodie newcomers have targeted Ireland for expansion in recent years. Fine-dining groups like UK-based steakhouse Hawksmoor, French group Big Mamma and The Ivy have either opened or announced expansion plans in Ireland and Northern Ireland.


Telegraph
11 minutes ago
- Telegraph
John Lewis considers awarding staff bonus for first time in four years
John Lewis is poised to reinstate its prized staff bonus for the first time in four years after upbeat trading put it on course for higher profits. The retail partnership, one of Britain's largest mutuals, is considering paying out the bonus to 69,000 workers after a turnaround in performance at its flagship stores. According to internal documents, the group's board will be asked to recommend reinstating the payout if pre-tax profits reach £200m for the year to February 2026. Profits last year totalled £126m, up from £42m, and sales are expected to have increased in the first half of 2025 – leaving it well positioned to hit the milestone. The documents, seen by the Financial Times, said John Lewis expected to pass the £200m threshold and added 'to get there we need to keep focused on the right things and deliver our plans'. Bringing back the payout would mark a major win for Jason Tarry, the new chairman who joined the retailer last September replacing Dame Sharon White. The former UK chief of Tesco has steered a turnaround drive at the partnership, with bosses saying they are now 'relentlessly focused' on retail again having dabbled in financial services and housing. John Lewis, which also owns grocer Waitrose, first cancelled the prized payout in 2020 having paid the bonus every year since 1953. It was briefly reinstated in 2022 but has not been paid since amid a tougher trading environment. Despite tripling profits last year, the group said it had 'prioritised' higher pay for staff as well as other investments instead of paying the bonus. The move prompted anger from members, who campaigned to get the payout reinstated. A staff petition launched earlier this year said that workers were 'working harder than ever' but many were 'getting less recognition'. 'The bonus meant something more than just money. It was a sign that the company saw and appreciated us,' the letter said. John Lewis has faced a variety of struggles in recent years, including navigating the pandemic as well as rising levels of online shopping destroying trading in its bricks-and-mortar stores. In 2021, under Dame Sharon, it suffered a £648m loss because of a significant write-down on the value of its shops as well as restructuring costs. On the back of this, the retailer launched a five year cost-cutting plan to try and return to profit. The partnership paid a record £116m in salaries last year and raised its minimum pay to £11.55 an hour. Reviving the payout hinges on trading remaining successful for the rest of the year. A John Lewis spokesman said: 'As we said at our full year results in March, we expect to increase our profitability in the coming year.'


The Guardian
11 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Two UK pro-Palestine organisations have bank accounts frozen
At least two grassroots pro-Palestine organisations in the UK have had their bank accounts frozen, raising fears about a wider attempt to silence voices speaking out about Gaza. Greater Manchester Friends for Palestine (GMFP) and Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), which both organise peaceful protests and vigils, have had access to their funds cut off indefinitely by Virgin Money and Unit Trust bank respectively. The Guardian understands a local PSC branch in England has also had its bank account frozen but was unable to confirm it directly. Coming amid the banning of Palestine Action earlier this month and the arrest of more than 100 people for showing support for the group, and the threatened arrest of a peaceful protester for having a Palestine flag and 'Free Gaza' sign, it has amplified concerns about a crackdown on critics of Israel. Owen Cooper, co-treasurer of GMFP, said the group, which lists bike-riding among its activities, has been marching peacefully for more than a year and a half without incident or criminal activity but Virgin Money refused to say why its account had been frozen. 'If it's purely the fact that we have Palestine on the bank account name, I think it's a very worrying sign,' said Cooper. 'It would be not only hugely worrying but hugely disappointing to think that a country that values freedom of speech, that is a liberal democracy can be acting like this and that ordinary, decent people with a conscience are being regarded as extremists. 'What could the bank be thinking that we've done? Certainly nothing that the police believe is a crime.' He said the freeze meant that GMFP could not send money to Gaza and the West Bank to help those in need. 'They're actually preventing aid and support going into Gaza, and it's going in for food and medical supplies,' said Cooper. 'We don't have access to F-35 jets or 500lb bombs that we're funding.' Unity Trust bank says its aim is to be 'the bank of choice for all socially minded organisations in the UK', including charities and trades unions. But Mick Napier, from Scottish PSC's finance committee, said it had acted disgracefully. He said Scottish PSC was told the reason for its account being frozen last month was that it had a button on its website to donate to Palestine Action before the group was banned on 5 July. But the button was removed when Palestine Action was proscribed and yet the account had not been restored, said Napier. 'It's shocking,' he said. 'It's absolutely disgraceful that a campaign like ours [has been treated like this]. We've been operating for 25 years. Palestine Action we supported until they were proscribed. It came out the blue [the freezing of the account], and we were very disappointed. We think it's very bad practice. 'We can't get into our cash at all. We've had to use other means, very inconvenient means to pay bills and generally operate, it's been extremely burdensome.' The Guardian asked both banks for the reasons for the accounts being frozen and if there had been any external influence. Both said they were unable to comment on individual customer accounts. A Virgin Money spokesperson added that there were 'a variety of reasons why we may decide, or be required, to suspend or close an account in order to comply with applicable laws and regulations'. A Unity Trust bank spokesperson said it was 'a politically neutral organisation. Our mission and values underpin our commitment to operating with integrity'. They added: 'Unity has a diverse customer base that represents a broad range of communities.'