Fourteen homes could be built in Dereham to help fund a revamp of the town's Memorial Hall.Dereham Town Council has applied for outline permission to build 14 two-bedroom apartments on the edge of Fleece Meadow and create 14 car parking spaces and room for 14 bicycles.
Fourteen homes could be built in Dereham to help fund a revamp of the town's Memorial Hall.
Dereham Town Council has applied for outline permission to build 14 two-bedroom apartments on the edge of Fleece Meadow and create 14 car parking spaces and room for 14 bicycles.
The area the council wants to develop is on the western side of Fleece Meadow and currently obscured by a hedge and prone to littering and fly-tipping. The application said the development would not affect the main part of Fleece Meadow.
The application added: 'The town council is seeking the approval of the proposal which would release the capital value of the land. This revenue along with other income is to be allocated for refurbishment and renovation of the Memorial Hall.'
It also said the new homes would help 'secure the Memorial Hall as a continuing centre for drama and arts for local residents and as an important community asset'.
Town clerk Tony Needham said the council was still assessing different options for financing the much-needed improvements for the Memorial Hall.
He said: 'The key point to bear in mind is that the town council has not made any decision whether to dispose of the land or not yet.
'We are asking Breckland whether in principle this land at Fleece Meadow would this be suitable for development and then the town council would make the decision.'
At the town council's markets and buildings committee on Tuesday the committee agreed to find an architect to draw up plans for the Memorial Hall as well as form a steering group to liaise with the architect.
The committee also agreed there would be no rent increases for the Memorial Hall and Assembly Rooms. It also heard that, after the recent success of shows put on at the Memorial Hall, it was hoped that there would be another comedy night in April and that The Mad Dogs and Englishmen Theatre Company would bring their production of Othello to the venue in August.
The decisions by the markets and buildings committees are due to be rubberstamped at the next full council meeting on March 10.
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