Our Anglia region have received the green light for the creation of a new wetland that will improve water quality in Norfolk and unlock much needed new homes.

The new wetland solution is the first of its kind in Norfolk. Councillors on Breckland Council’s planning committee approved plans which will create over 3ha of Integrated Constructed Wetland (ICW), comprising three new ponds and specialist plants and vegetation, that will treat water from the River Wensum as it flows through. 

The wetland will replicate natural processes for water treatment that will improve water quality in the River Wensum catchment area, and help to deliver much needed new homes in Norfolk.  In addition to improving the water quality, the new wetland will offer substantial ecological and biodiversity benefits with a wider 17ha area being turned into a haven for wildlife.

Michelle Baker, Managing Director of Persimmon Homes Anglia said:

“We’re very proud of the new wetland that we are going to create in Guist, which will unlock much needed new homes in the area and improve water quality.

“As a business, we take our environmental responsibilities extremely seriously, and I am delighted that we have brought forward a high-quality, nature-based solution that offers so many environmental benefits.

“We’ll be starting work on the new wetland early next year and look forward to its completion by early Summer.”

Housing delivery in Norfolk has slowed considerably, and even stalled in some places, as a result of the nutrient neutrality requirements that were implemented in March 2022. While housing, and in particular new housing is a tiny contributor of nutrients into local watercourses, this new wetland solution will ensure Persimmon can bring forward new homes across a number of sites in Norfolk and achieve nutrient neutrality.

Work to construct the ICW will begin in March next year with Persimmon Homes Anglia aiming to have the new wetland fully constructed by early Summer.