Norfolk village of Woodton on dilemma of new homes

The village of Woodton was once home to a butcher's shop, a coal merchant's, a greengrocer's, a garage, a post office and a pub.

As the years passed, the businesses gradually closed.

The most recent to go was the shop, which shut its doors last year.

Now, just the pub, the King's Head, remains in the centre.

So what might be done to breathe new life into this charming village, in the gently undulating countryside between Norwich and Bungay?

One way could be to build more homes here, to bring in new families and - crucially - make it easier for young people to remain in the area where they grew up.

After all, there is still infrastructure in the village: a school, a village hall and a thriving farm shop on the outskirts.

But what about the people who already live here? Do they want the change that new housing would bring, possibly radically altering the character of their village and transforming the quiet setting that they so love?

It is a dilemma which faces every village across the region and beyond: should locals embrace change that could revive their communities and rural businesses, or seek to preserve what they have?

The issue is a particularly pressing one in Woodton, which has just been added to a plan drawn up by South Norfolk Council officials to identify which villages should receive new housing in the next 15 years.

Woodton is near the top of their list. If the plan is approved it, along with Brooke and Pulham St Mary, is in line to get more properties than any other village in the district, with 50 homes to go up on land south of Church Road.

For a community of just 700 people, that amount of new houses would transform the village.

So would locals embrace or resist the change?

Jane Wickstead, chairman of the Woodton parish council said the shop 'closure left sadness' (Image: Bruno Brown)

'LATEST CLOSURE LEFT SADNESS'

For Jane Wickstead, chair of the parish council, the 'right' sort of housing should be embraced, and the 'wrong' sort resisted.

"We are not against development in the right places," said Mrs Wickstead, who has lived in the village for 33 years and been on the council for 15.

"We do not mind infill developments and have had a really successful example of that on The Street, where developers have just built 23 new properties on a brownfield site.

"The closure of the shop in May 2022 was a huge sadness for the village, it has left the village lacking a vibrant centre.

"Local people went to the shop as part of their daily routine, whether it be for the paper, their bread or milk, above all for the elderly people it was so good for them socially.

"We are pro-development, but it has to be controlled and we do not want a sprawling mess of developments because we don't have the facilities."

The vacant Woodton village shop closed in May 2022 and was a 'social hub' for elderly village residents (Image: Bruno Brown)

'DON'T TURN VILLAGES INTO TOWNS'

Tracey K, has been the landlady at the King's Head since 2015.

She said only 10pc of her trade comes from residents of the village and was sceptical of the idea that new housing was the way to guarantee the future of the pub.

"People can't say they're worried about losing the pub, after losing the shop, so they welcome the idea of more houses when they don't even drink here themselves," she added.

"A village is not a village if they build more and more houses, because soon it will become a town.

"Woodton is a lovely little village and when we retire in March we will miss it.

"We have had a lovely seven years here and love this pub with all our hearts."

Fabien Dekker-Woljung enjoying his lunch with a pint at the Woodton King's Head (Image: Bruno Brown)

KEEP THE QUIET

Peter Smith has lived in his home on Hempnall Road, opposite the old shop, for 40 years.

He is not particularly keen on more people moving to the village.

"We chose to move here as the village was a quiet and rural setting," he said.

"It was a good compromise because it had a pub, a school, a shop a village hall, and was just outside of Bungay where my wife used to work.

"What concerns me is the more houses that get built means there will be more traffic, which is already a problem, and the more people here will put more pressure on the infrastructure," Mr Smith said.

What lies ahead for the future of the village's pub when Tracey and her husband retire in March? (Image: Bruno Brown)

'VILLAGES CAN DIE'

His neighbour is parish councillor, Ian Butler, who has lived next door for 11 years.

He is more receptive to the idea of development, warning that without it, the "village will die".

"Every village needs development because without it the village will die," he said.

"But it is important that development happens in the correct areas. 

"It is easy to say, 'not in my backyard', but the positioning is key.

"You can't have development without the facilities for the people to use.

"We have a pub which may benefit from more people, but now the shop has closed I do not think we have the facilities in the village anymore."

Howard Shapland and his dog Frank walk though the village every day (Image: Bruno Brown)

'WE NEED HOUSES'

Howard Shapland, who has lived on Church Road - the area outlined for development - for 12 years welcomed the plans.

"The village has got some character and charm, but after the shop closed in May, it lacks a central theme," he said.

"The village is located off the main road and planners and developers should take advantage of this."

Abode have recently built 23 new properties in an 'infill' just off The Street (Image: Bruno Brown)