Could the MidNorfolk serve an entirely new town in future?

A 5000-home new town could be served by the Mid-Norfolk Railway under plans being drawn up by Breckland Council for the next 20 years.

The local authority has included a site between North Elmham, Billingford and Bintree as one possibility for a major development to handle Norfolk’s growing population and stimulate economic growth.

The site has even been informally labelled Railway Village because of the nearby heritage railway – which could be upgraded to provide regular services to the new town.

However, a MNR spokesman said that the plans were “very much a speculative document” and there had not been any discussions with the railway.

The Norfolk branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England has already voiced its opposition, saying local roads could not cope and that the stated number of houses are unacceptable.