A war of words broke out over a plan to see transform disused council land and properties into homes and other facilities.
Breckland councillors voted 25-13 to approve an updated Breckland Bridge business plan to guide at least five developments over the next five years.
Already eight years old, Breckland Bridge is a collaboration between the council and private developers The Land Group.
But at a council meeting on July 13, opposition councillors objected to some elements of the plan.
Councillor Paul Hewett, Breckland's executive member for property, projects and procurement, said: “The focus of the bridge business plan is to ensure our land works for us and to deliver this focus we need a clear commercial remit.
"Through bridge, we can generate commercial returns to this council, our residents and our taxpayers.
“The bridge business plan needs to be open and transparent as it possibly can be."
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Projects included in Breckland Bridge include 21 homes at Colkirk, 16 units at Litcham, 47 at Banham, 36 at Banham and 15 - possibly increasing to 35 - at Kenninghall.
There are also a number of smaller sites which could be included, and opposition councillors including Labour group deputy leader Harry Clarke said it could result in nine publically-owned sites in Dereham alone being put in danger of being sold off.
Labour group leader Terry Jermy and independent councillor Roger Atterwill were among the others voting against the plan.
Disappointed that @BreckCouncil Tories charge ahead with plans to put dozens of sites at risk of development or sale - at odds with council priorities e.g Housing, Carbon Reduction, attempts to get people healthier & undertaking physical exercise - once land is gone, it's gone!
— Cllr Terry Jermy (@CllrTerryJermy) July 13, 2023
Mr Clarke said: “I worry that the outcome of small sites disposal will be left to the vigilance, alertness, scrutiny, persistence of parish and town councils, ward members and individuals on a case-by-case basis.
“I’m not standing out against developments anywhere, on every single yard of Breckland land, especially if for good quality designed property, at least mixed tenure, ideally genuinely affordable.”
READ MORE - Town's fears over possible sale of seven plots of land
Conservative councillor Bill Borrett said in response: “If Breckland Bridge didn't make the money then the members wouldn't be able to spend it on supporting the people.
“Every time we come to this council with a project for Breckland Bridge, it is not supported by the members opposite.
"But every time we have a project to spend the money that Breckland Bridge has made, the members opposite are the first in the queue to say that the money should be spent on this and that.
“If we don't do it, that money won't be available, and those projects that are necessary or that this council deems important will not be delivered.”
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