More affordable homes and new sport and play facilities will soon be built in North Walsham.

Not-for-profit housing provider Flagship - part of Bromford Flagship - has confirmed its purchase of a 3.9-hectare site off Station Road. Its development arm, Flagship Homes, will build 54 new homes alongside extensive community facilities.

Tony Tann, Flagship Homes' managing director, said: "This isn't just about building homes—it's about creating a community. The new play areas and green spaces at this site will give families and residents places to stay active, socialise, and enjoy the great outdoors."

The development will deliver 27 homes for affordable rent at 80% of market value, allocated to local families on the North Norfolk District Council housing register. A further 27 properties will be available through Shared Ownership, offering a route onto the housing ladder with smaller deposits. All homes will use Modern Methods of Construction and feature sustainable technology including electric vehicle chargers, solar panels and air-source heat pumps.

North Norfolk District Council's planning committee approved the scheme last October. The site sits next to Victory Swim and Fitness Centre and formerly served both Paston School and Paston College. With sports participation declining among sixth form students, the site is now being transformed for a different purpose.

The development will include 1.6 hectares of open space featuring two landscape-integrated play areas and a village green at the heart of the site for relaxation and social events. An outdoor gym will complement the recreational facilities. New pedestrian and cycle routes will link the homes with the adjoining Victory Swim and Fitness Centre and the popular Weavers Way walking trail.

As part of the agreement, Flagship will contribute over £4,000 towards libraries, more than £14,000 for maintaining walking trails including Weavers Way, over £16,380 towards allotments, and around £45,500 for a new 3G football pitch at North Walsham Football Club.

Construction is due to begin later this year. Details of a new grant scheme from Paston Foundation for nine secondary schools in north-east Norfolk will also be released later in the year.

A site rich in local history
The Paston Foundation, which preserves the Tudor-era Paston family's historical legacy in Norfolk, formerly owned the site and supports the project.

Peter Stibbons, chair of the Paston Foundation, said: "The Foundation is responsible for the endowment trust first set up by Sir William Paston (1528-1610) in 1606 and since then has supported education in north-east Norfolk in a variety of ways. The boost to the endowment funds brought by this project will ensure this support continues.

"There are many former Pastonians who will fondly recall their sporting achievements on this site, including in football, hockey, athletics, cricket and tennis – and some less fond memories of the swimming lessons in the outdoor and unheated pool! However, time moves on, the leases continue for the Victory pool and the main education provision in the town centre and we are pleased with the new homes and facilities that will be provided for North Walsham."