Persimmon start work on Ketts Meadow homes in Hethersett

Persimmon Homes has announced that work has started on the next 148 homes at Ketts Meadow in Hethersett. 

This is phase three of a huge development that will number around 1,200 homes when completed after developers Persimmon Homes and Taylor Wimpey were given outline permission in 2013 to build in the north of the village.

Taylor Wimpey and Persimmon Homes have been building the new homes in Hethersett (Image: Denise Bradley)

This phase will include 30 affordable homes, which will be handed over to a housing association, with an additional acre of land transferred to South Norfolk Council to build future affordable housing.

Speaking about the plans for the development in 2023, Conservative district councillor for Hethersett, Kathryn Cross, said: "Affordable housing is one of the biggest issues in the district and forecasted to be an increasing need throughout the next year at least."

A play area for children will also be built as part of the phase, with highway connections, community facilities, a local centre, a new primary school and allotments planned for future building on the estate.

Construction work has begun on phase three, which is to the west of the current housing development (Image: Denise Bradley)

However, Hethersett Parish Council has drawn attention to local concerns about the development, with phase three not set to include certain infrastructure.

A spokeswoman said: "As a result of the growing population of Hethersett, the concerns raised by residents have been in two main areas: doctors' surgery capacity and school capacity.

"South Norfolk Council has earmarked £6m for a new doctors' surgery and is working through the finer details.

"We understand that The Humbleyard Practice has recently employed a personnel manager to overcome the recent staffing shortages that have caused challenges for residents."

Cllr Kathryn Cross (Image: Kathryn Cross)

District councillor Ms Cross has revealed that South Norfolk Council is working to secure some land from the developers where a GP surgery can be built, but the timing for this agreement is out of their control.

"I am hopeful that with the start of the latest phase of development, this means the land transfer will happen soon for the surgery," she said.

"I know there are frustrations with getting appointments but the surgery has had overwhelming demand as the community of Hethersett has grown.

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"They have just taken on another GP and physician associate to hopefully go some way to meeting the demand but a new bigger surgery that can adapt and grow for future needs of Hethersett is vital."

The new phase of the development will see 148 houses built in Hethersett (Image: Persimmon Homes)

The spokeswoman for the parish council also addressed the issues that new Hethersett locals have had with getting places in local schools, adding: "Norfolk County Council has recently invested £10m into expanding the school capacity in Hethersett.

"In response to concerns raised by residents who have experienced difficulties in registering their children, we asked if there are any further plans for greater capacity.

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"We were told that over the next year or so the number of applications will drop, which leads us to believe that capacity demand is at a peak and will subside.

"Given that 500 to 700 additional families are planned to move into Hethersett, we hope that the ebb and flow of demand and capacity has been accurately projected."

The first of the phase three homes will go on sale on May 11 (Image: Denise Bradley)

The Ketts Meadow houses have been far from problem-free, with new homeowners complaining to this paper in January about leaky pipes, flooding in the garden and damp.

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A Persimmon Homes spokeswoman responded to the complaints: "We recognise that there have been some issues in both customers' homes that fall short of the high standards that Persimmon Homes prides itself with.

"We're also sorry for the length of time it has taken to address some of these concerns."

Houses in the phase three development will go on sale on May 11.