20/01/22: Council's investment to support Thetford's ongoing regeneration

Breckland Council members have today (20 January) voted to approve the purchase of a property that will have a significant impact on the regeneration of Thetford's riverside area.

At a meeting of full council the councillors voted to purchase Riversdale, a property on Tanner Street in Thetford. In the future, the property will be used to support a vision to create a new quality residential, commercial, or mixed-use scheme, to support the redevelopment of Thetford's centre.

Riversdale has previously been used to provide community and voluntary space for local groups or businesses. However, in the last two years it has been empty and the owners have decided to offer the property for sale. Breckland Council is taking this opportunity to acquire it and invest in the town's future.

The council's aim is to design and develop a new scheme for this part of Thetford to create a regeneration impact in the town. This is being undertaken as part of the council's Thriving Places agenda which seeks to create the right conditions for businesses to thrive and grow across Breckland.

The property is located on a relatively large site in the centre of Thetford and has a large rear garden stretching down to the open space and footpath known as riverside walk. Developing this site, along with other council-owned adjacent sites, has the potential to transform this area.

The council intends to invest £630,000 in the project. This will cover the purchase price and associated fees, and the cost of design and pre-planning work. Subject to a successful planning outcome, the construction of the future scheme could be disposed to a developer to undertake the actual construction.

Cllr Paul Hewett, Breckland Council's Executive Member for Property and Projects, said: "The Riversdale property is strategically important to the future of this area of Thetford's riverside, and we're pleased to have the opportunity to take direct action to drive improvements in the town.

"The kind of scheme we're planning has been proven in the past and, depending on the planning permission we secure, could make a big difference in terms of generating employment opportunities and increasing leisure activity. The property has been offered for sale now and therefore this is a very good opportunity that should be taken up."

"We've had notable success with our development of the nearby Thetford Riverside complex and this scheme which is now 100 per cent let with the last occupier due to move in soon and this will complement that ongoing redevelopment in the area. Our Thriving Places priority set out in our corporate plan calls for innovative and long-term thinking for our district's future and we're confident that this scheme does exactly that."

Cllr Jane James and Cllr Roy Brame, the members representing Thetford Castle ward, said: "We welcome this opportunity to continue Breckland Council's commitment to the residents of Thetford through investment and regeneration. Recent social media discussions by those residents have shared a desire for continued improvement around this area through diversity and vibrancy. The agreement to acquire the property today is another step in this journey and we look forward to the next stages in the enhancement of this beautiful part of our town."

It is estimated that the development of the design scheme will take between three and five years. In the meantime, the council has secured an opportunity to lease the property back to the former owner so it can be brought into use in the next few years, to ensure there is continued benefit to the community in the interim.