NEW COMMUNITY ORCHARD TAKES ROOT IN SWANTON NOVERS
A new community orchard has been planted in Swanton Novers, as part of an initiative which has seen seven new affordable homes built for people with connections to the village.
Representatives from the Swanton Novers Community Land Trust joined staff from Broadland Housing Association to plant apple and hazel trees at the new orchard, which is immediately next to the new homes.
Apples from the trees will be pressed on the village’s fruit press and turned into apple juice for villagers. The apple trees were provided from the East of England Apples & Orchards Project, a local conservation project.
The development was made possible after local landowner Rt Hon Delaval Astley donated the land. He has previously donated land for Swanton Novers Village Hall as well as two other affordable housing developments which have been brought forward by Broadland Housing.
The land was taken under the guardianship of the newly-formed Swanton Novers Community Land Trust, which, in liaison with the local community, appointed Broadland Housing Association to build and manage the new affordable homes.
Funding for construction has been provided by Broadland Housing, North Norfolk District Council and Homes England.
The four bungalows and three houses are close to completion, and they will be made available under a local lettings policy, with priority given to those in housing need who have a strong connection to the village.
Ian Watson, secretary of the Swanton Novers Community land Trust, said, “We are over the moon with the new housing development, St Edmunds Court. From the outset, the Community Land Trust had a vision to create high quality and beautiful homes for the social purpose of long-term affordable rent. Broadland Housing has delivered on this vision, and more.
"The Community Orchard was always intended to be a key part of the development. We wanted to create a wonderful community space for the benefit and enjoyment of local parishioners. To connect them to the development and as a gift to thank them for the enthusiasm the village has given to the project.
"It is such a joy to have volunteers from the village coming together with Broadland to establish the orchard by planting the many different English an Norfolk local varieties of fruit trees. In time we look forward to it being truly fruitful with many abundant crops. More importantly, it will be a place of quite reflection, peace and sanctuary for many years ahead. "
Helping to plant the new trees was Andrew Savage, executive development director at Broadland Housing. He said, “This site is an excellent example of what can be achieved if you bring together the local community to work towards a solution which works for everybody.
“Along with the Community Land Trust, we have created seven much-needed high quality affordable homes for local people, as well as the community orchard which will continue to benefit the whole village into the future.”
The new affordable homes comprise one one-bedroom bungalow, three two-bedroom bungalows and three three-bedroom houses. The development has been designed by Mole Architects in the style of a mock farmyard conversion so that it sits sympathetically in the wider village landscape. The homes have a high level of energy efficiency, with air source heat pumps, triple glazing and photovoltaic solar panels.
The new homes have been built by EN Suiter & Sons of King’s Lynn, project managed by Aecom. Rossi Long Consulting advised on Nutrient Neutrality mitigation, and CJ Yardley Survey and Design is providing arboriculture and landscaping services.