Flagship secures permission for housing scheme in Norfolk

By Danny BallPublished On: October 16th, 2026Categories: News, Top Stories

Flagship Homes has secured planning permission to build 26 affordable homes on a 1.4-hectare site off Catfield Road in Ludham, Norfolk, with construction expected to start in early 2027.

North Norfolk District Council (NNDC) approved the development, which will comprise 20 homes for social rent and six shared ownership properties.

The scheme is being delivered as a rural exception site, giving priority to people with a local connection to Ludham and surrounding villages.

Housing will range from one to four bedrooms and include bungalows, providing accommodation for different household sizes and age groups.

Drainage strategy shapes site design

Flood risk and surface water management were key considerations in the development’s design following concerns raised by residents during a public consultation at Ludham Village Hall in April 2025, attended by more than 70 people.

Flagship Homes commissioned detailed flood modelling to inform the proposals and support discussions with Norfolk County Council, acting as the Lead Local Flood Authority, which had to approve the scheme’s drainage arrangements before it could proceed.

Resulting strategy combines a water storage basin on the western edge of the site with permeable paving, roadside swales and an off-site discharge connection. The measures are intended to manage surface water and reduce flood risk for both the new development and the surrounding village.

Site layout was also revised in response to community feedback. Concerns about children’s safety near the water led to the play area being relocated and redesigned as a natural trim trail, while existing oak trees valued by residents have been retained and incorporated into the plans.

Tony Tann, managing director of Flagship Homes, said: “We spent a long time listening before the plans were signed off.

“Many locals turned out to the consultation, and they told us plainly what mattered to them. That feedback has made this a better development, from how we’ve dealt with drainage to keeping those old oaks and rethinking where the children play. I’m grateful to everyone who took the time to have their say.”

Energy-efficient homes and public open space

The development will include air source heat pumps and solar panels, with the homes designed to a high energy standard to reduce reliance on gas and help limit household energy bills.

Around a third of a hectare of green open space will also be available to the wider village. Planned features include wildflower areas, log piles, insect habitats and nesting boxes to support local wildlife.

The site is within walking distance of a primary school, shops and a surgery, with bus routes connecting Ludham to North Walsham and Norwich.

Construction due to start in 2027

Construction is expected to begin in early 2027, with the first homes scheduled to be ready for occupation by March 2028.

Flagship Homes is the development arm of Bromford Flagship LiveWest, which is described by the organisation as the UK’s largest provider of new affordable homes.

Tony Tann said: “For a lot of people, staying in the village they grew up in just isn’t possible any more.

“Rents and house prices have become out of reach, and families end up having to move away from the people and places they know. These homes are about giving local people in and around Ludham a chance to build a life in a place they love, in a home they can afford.”