COMMUNITY STRATEGY
KINGS LYNN AND
WEST NORFOLK AREA
Jarvie Close, Sedgeford
Brancaster, Burnham Deepdale, Burnham Market
Docking, Sedgeford
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King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Community Strategy
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Developed in partnership with local residents and agencies, Community
Strategies will form the basis for Hastoe’s community development initiatives
by determining priority areas for the community and identifying actions to
address them.
1.2 Community development aims to empower residents to take collective action
on matters that concern their community and help local residents gain the
skills and confidence to decide their own futures. In order to do this we need
to engage with our residents; discover the issues that concern them; listen to
their ideas for improvements and changes; and work in partnership with other
local organisations to make things happen.
1.3 Hastoe, developments in Norfolk tend to be small and widespread. For the
purpose of this strategy, six schemes - Brancaster, Burnham Deepdale,
Burnham Market, Docking (two sites) and Sedgeford have been grouped
together. They are all within the administrative district of the Borough of
King’s Lynn and West Norfolk. The schemes fall within the following wards:
-
Brancaster and Burnham – Brancaster ward
Burnham Market – Burnham ward
Docking - Docking ward
Sedgeford – Snettisham ward
1.4 This strategy and Action Plan has been produced by the Area Housing
Manager in partnership with residents as part of our proactive management of
the area. The first part of the strategy sets out the profile of the community.
More in depth investigation was needed to develop the action plan and
establish what the community priorities are. To do this, questionnaires were
sent to all homes (a 41% response rate was achieved), followed up with face
to face meetings with residents and including information from estate
walkabouts/visits.
1.5 Hastoe maintains a strong working relationship with the Borough Council of
King’s Lynn & West Norfolk. This is enhanced by the Area Housing Manager
attending the council’s Housing Strategy review meetings.
2.0 COMMUNITY PROFILES
2.1 In total there are forty seven homes. The properties comprise: six, one
bedroom flats; twenty one two bedroom houses; four, two bedroom
bungalows; 14, three bedroom houses; two, four bedroom houses, of which
52 are rented (75%) and 17 are Shared Ownership (25%).
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2.2 All six schemes are in villages and local bus services vary. The main
supermarkets, medical and dental services and other facilities are available in
the nearest larger village / small town.
2.3 The nearest hospital for all nine schemes is the Queen Elizabeth Hospital,
King’s Lynn. It has an Accident & Emergency unit and also provides a
comprehensive range of specialist, acute, obstetrics and community-based
services.
2.4 Senior education is provided at the College of West Anglia, King’s Lynn.
2.5 Local policing is delivered through the Safer Neighbourhood Teams, part of
Norfolk Constabulary
2.6 Overview of each site:
2.6.1 Brancaster and Burnham Deepdale
Saxon Field, Brancaster

Hastoe homes are found at: Saxon Field, Brancaster, sixteen homes
(twelve houses: five rented; six shared owner and four rented flats) and
Dalegate Lane, Burnham Deepdale, (five rented; one shared owner).

Situated on the A149 coast road between Hunstanton and Wells, The
Parish of Brancaster is made up of the wards of Brancaster and
Brancaster Staithe with Burnham Deepdale. Local industry still includes
farming and fishing but there is an increasing demand for a service
industry to meet the needs of holiday makers and second home owners.
The parish has a good range of shops, including a post office and petrol
station. It also has a Primary School and secondary education is provided
at Smithdon High School, Hunstanton or at the Alderman Peel High
School at Wells-next the Sea.

. Facilities and activities include:
- Brancaster CE VA Primary School;
- two Anglican churches - St Mary the Virgin, Broad Lane; Brancaster
and The Church of St Mary, Burnham Deepdale;
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-
three public houses
a choice of restaurants
Brancaster Staithe & Deepdale Village Hall
the Royal North West Norfolk Golf Club,;
the Sailcraft school;
a tennis club;
organised walks
2.6.2 Burnham Market, Croft Close

The Hastoe homes consist of four bungalows, which provide rented
accommodation.

The nearest towns with general amenities are either Hunstanton or Wells
Next the Sea. In addition to having a traditional post office, butcher, baker,
hardware shop, fish shop and chemist, Burnham Market also has a
number of independent shops and galleries. The village has a Primary
School and secondary education is provided at Smithdon High School,
Hunstanton or at the Alderman Peel High School at Wells-next the Sea.

Facilities and activities include
- St Mary of Burnham Westgate church
- Burnham Market Primary School
- a doctor
- a dentist
- two pub / restaurants – The Hoste Arms and The Jockey
- the Burnhams Tennis Club
- the Farmers’ Market held 1st Saturday and 3rd Friday monthly, 09:0012:00
- the annual summer festival
2.6.3 Docking

Hastoe homes are found at: Shammer Close, seven houses, (four rented;
three shared owner) and Woodgate Way, (four rented bungalows).

The nearest town is Hunstanton where there are a range of medical
facilities, shops and leisure facilities. Whilst there is a primary school in
Docking, secondary education is provided at Smithdon High School,
Hunstanton.

Facilities at Docking include:
- the Church of St Mary the Virgin
- Post Office
- Shop
- Fish and Chip shop
- Restaurant
- Docking Primary & Nursery School
- A doctor
- two pubs – the King William and the Railway Inn
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-
RAF Docking was a former RAF airfield from 1940 - 1958
2.6.4 Sedgeford, Jarvie Close

This development consists of eight houses (six rented; two shared owner)
and two rented flats. It was completed in 2009 and officially opened by
Henry Bellingham MP, who planted a tree to celebrate the day. Built on
land made available by King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council the
properties benefit from environmental features such as ground source heat
pumps.

The nearest town is Hunstanton, which has a range of medical facilities,
shops and leisure facilities, plus a choice of schools, from pre-school
through to the Smithdon High School.

Facilities in Sedgeford include:
- St Marys Church
- Sedgeford First school
- Post Office services are available in the Village Hall on Tuesdays
- (1.30-5.30pm), Thursdays (8.30am-12pm); Fridays (8.30am-11am)
- Fitness Centre
- the King William IV Country Inn & Restaurant
- the Village Hall, where activities include: bowls; table tennis; adult
education classes; quiz nights, concerts and dances;
- groups and associations include: the Womens’ Friendship group;
NADFAS; the British Legion; the Parish Council
3.0 RESIDENT PROFILE
3.1 Hastoe homes in the Kings Lynn & West Norfolk area are mostly occupied by
families. The majority have lived in the area for over fifteen years and half are
in full time employment. Benefit payment of some type is paid to 77% of
households.
The following charts show the number in each household; the length of time
people have lived in the area and the number in each age group per family.
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
Number in household:
Number in
household
1 person
2 people
3 people
4 people

Length of time in the area:
Length of time in
the area
1-5yrs
6-10yrs
15yrs plus

Number of age group per family:
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Number of age
group per family
0-5yrs
6-11yrs
12-16yrs
17-21yrs
22-40yrs
3.2 As this information shows, Hastoe have a younger tenant base which varies
with the percentage of people in each age band in the wider community
(statistics from Office for Neighbourhood statistics – Census 2001). This
variance is in part due to the lack of affordable housing for families and
younger people since the increase in second homes and older residents
downsizing to rural areas. Hastoe works with Parish Councils and the Local
Authority to meet this housing need.
The following tables show the percentage of people in each age band in your
neighbourhood 2007:
Brancaster ward (Brancaster and Burnham Deepdale)
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Burnham ward
Docking ward
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Snettisham ward
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
The employment status of those over 18 years is:
Employment status
of over 18's
Full time
Part time
Carer
Unemployed
Stay at home parent
4.0 DIVERSITY INFORMATION
4.1 Diversity information by household
Ethnicity
Language
Disability
100% white British
100% English spoken as first language
14%
The following information is not currently available but sourcing it will
be included in the action plan:
Age
Gender
Sexual Orientation
Religion/Belief
Marital/Civil Partnership
4.2 The largest ethnic group within the wards is White British making up
approximately 97% of the total population. This is emulated in the ethnic
group statistics for the local authority area (Kings Lynn and West Norfolk) as
the table below shows (information collected from the Office for
Neighbourhood Statistics, based on the 2001 Census).
Estimated population by broad ethnic group, mid-2007
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King's Lynn and West Norfolk England
White
%
96.3
88.2
Mixed
%
0.9
1.7
%
1.2
5.7
%
0.8
2.8
%
0.8
1.5
Asian or Asian
British
Black or Black
British
Chinese or Other
5.0 SERVICE PROFILE
5.1 Each site has been developed to provide homes for local people and as such
all have letting restrictions. All sites are subject to a Section 106 planning
agreement with the Borough of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk and residents of
Hastoe homes at Brancaster and Burnham Deepdale must meet the criteria
set by Brancaster and Burnham Deepdale Housing Society.
5.2 The way in which housing association properties are let is changing across
Norfolk.
A Choice Based Letting scheme, known as West Norfolk
Homechoice, advertises properties on a weekly basis. This means people
can choose the home they want. To be considered for a property, applicants
need to 'bid' (express an interest) for the property. Although the word bid is
used this does not involve any payment. Bids can be made online, through
the automated telephone line or by text message. Only applicants registered
on the King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Housing Register can bid for properties.
Since Homechoice was introduced Hastoe has seen an increase in voids,
where residents have successfully bid for other properties and have moved
home.
5.3 Since Homechoice was introduced Hastoe has generally seen an increase in
voids, where residents have successfully bid for other properties and have
moved home. A consequence is that residents have a choice in where they
live which contributes to better quality of life and a sense of empowerment.
However, it would appear residents of Norfolk have strong local connections
and tend to stay in the area, hence turnover of properties in West Norfolk is
infrequent; since 2009 there have just been two re-lets and two shared
ownership sale-ons at Brancaster. This could be due to the fact that Hastoe
residents have strong local connections via family and work and wish to
remain in the area.
5.4 Generally rent arrears are low, with currently six accounts (11%) with arrears
over £400.00. In order to recover rent arrears, Hastie works with the resident.
Initially contact is by either telephone and/or letter. This is then followed up by
a home visit when an income / expenditure analysis is carried out. At this
point a Notice may be served. Rent arrears are generally low in King’s Lynn
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& West Norfolk because where there is unemployment or low earnings
adequate benefit payments are provided. Although rent arrears are low,
promoting financial inclusion is important to continue to support residents and
prevent rent arrrears from rising. Part of this work is to increase the amount
of information available to residents about local CAB offices and Credit
Unions.
5.5 There have been incidents of Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) in the area. Where
this has occurred, Hastoe has worked with the Police, the Anti-Social
Behaviour Co-ordinator and Social services to remedy.
Generally, 59% of residents feel very safe in the day time, but this falls to 23%
at night; whilst 36% feel fairly safe in daytime and 68% at night. This feeling
of safety compares well with recorded levels of crime in each area
(information taken from the Indices of Deprivation 2007):
Brancaster ward:
Burnham ward:
Docking ward:
Snettisham ward:
5.6 Apart from reporting anti-social behaviour and a some initial queries with new
homes, there have been no complaints.
6.0 ESTATE MANAGEMENT SERVICES
6.1 Brancaster
The 12 houses at the site were completed on 24th November 2003 and the
block of four flats on 11th February 2005. They were built to meet local need
and were designed to reflect the local style of home. At the time the
properties were built, planning regulations allowed 1.5 car spaces per
household. Over time, as some households run several vehicles this has
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proved inadequate and Hastoe is currently seeking a way to provide more car
spaces. A general meeting was held in May 2009 to discuss car parking
issues as this has affected other Brancaster residents. Whilst no permanent
solution could immediately be found there are plans to increase parking in the
future.
The development has some communal garden areas, which are landscaped
and maintained. Residents do not pay a service charge towards the upkeep
of the communal areas.
6.2 Burnham Deepdale
Completed in 18th August 1992 to meet local need, the six houses are
located at the edge of the village and reflect the local style of build. There is
adequate parking, two spaces per home and there are no communal green
areas. A hedge to the front of the development is maintained twice a year.
Residents do not pay a service charge.
6.3 Burnham Market
The development of four bungalows, completed on 10th January 1994 is on
the edge of Burnham Market, situated in a scheme comprising private and
social housing. There is adequate parking and as there are no communal
areas residents do not pay a service charge.
6.4 Docking
6.4.1 Woodgate Way:
The four bungalows, completed 12th august 1993 are part of a scheme
which includes private housing. There is adequate parking for
residents and as a result no parking issues.
6.4.2 Shammer Close:
At the edge of the village, this scheme consists of seven houses,
completed on 25th September 2006 and built to reflect the local style.
There has been an ongoing issue with the gravelled communal
driveway and this is still under review.
6.4 Sedgeford
This development consists of eight houses and was completed on 6th July
2009 and was officially opened by Henry Bellingham MP, who planted a tree
to celebrate the day. Built on land made available by King’s Lynn and West
Norfolk Borough Council the properties benefit from energy efficiency features
such as ground source heat pumps. There is adequate parking and a
communal garden area for which residents pay a service charge.
6.5 Out of those residents surveyed, telephone is still the preferred method of
contacting Hastoe, whilst the balance equally favoured e-mail and written
communication.
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6.6 Resident Satisfaction Levels:



Maintenance Service
Housing Management Service
Customer Service
Good%
32
46
50
Fair%
41
42
45
Poor%
27
14
5
7.0 Asset Management
7.1 The developments are managed from the East Region office by an Area
Housing Manager. The Regional Surveyor and a Maintenance Officer are
also based at this office. There is a central repair line for any works required
and day to day repairs and void works are carried out by Trevor Benton
Limited.
7.2 No cyclical decoration or major works are currently planned at any of the sites
during 2010-2011.
7.3 Notified estate visits are carried once a year and un-notified visits at least
once a year.
8.0 Resident Involvement
8.1 Currently there is no active formal resident involvement however 27% of
residents would like to have regular meetings with Hastoe staff and 14%
would welcome the formation of a residents’ association. Due to the rural
nature of Hastoe schemes residents cannot easily visit the East region office
at Saffron Walden. Also, as most homes are occupied by families with
parents working and children at school, lack of time is a serious consideration.
This strategy will aim to develop innovative ways to engage our residents in
ways that best suits their needs.
9.0 Action Plan
9.1 The excellent response rate from the questionnaires and face to face
interviews has meant that a significant amount of residents were involved in
developing this strategy and action plan. Overall residents feel part of their
local community, take part in local activities and receive a regular
parish/community magazine. Although residents seem to enjoy “being near
the sea” and “the quietness”, it is largely felt there is not enough for young
people to do, residents are reliant on their cars, there are few local shops, the
summer traffic can be a problem and there are “too many holiday homes”.
9.2 The Community Strategy consultation supports some of the challenges that
we know rural communities face. Many of the priorities identified through this
community strategy will require the Area Housing Manager to continue to
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develop links with key stakeholders (e.g. Rural Enablers) and attend
partnership meetings, to advocate on behalf of residents/communities and to
ensure that we are aware of all the services and facilities available to support
rural communities.
9.3 Action Plan
See following page
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Priority
Area
How it will be tackled Action/project/initiative
Lack of
Contact and arrange meeting
activities/servic with local youth service/club.
es for young
people
Review of
traffic and
transport
issues
Resource implication
AHM to research services
available for young people,
using the internet and
discussing with local youth
leaders.
Stakeholder
s/lead
person
AHM
Timescale
August 2010
Identify services available for
young people and publicise
amongst residents
AHM to pass information to
residents and ask why
existing services aren’t used
and what they feel is
lacking.
AHM
September
2010
Investigate current public
transport provision and
identify current
services/initiatives available
to support rural communities.
AHM to research transport
provision available to rural
communities. This will be
by internet and telephone,
and will examine public
transport timetables and if
any services or initiatives
are available such as ‘dial a
ride’.
AHM
September
2010
AHM to advise communities
of services available at
residents meeting and also
AHM
October
2010
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Outcomes/Impact (on
community and Hastoe)
by newsletter. Residents
will be asked for their
comments and these will be
passed onto the relevant
provider or LA.
Improvements
to housing
management /
maintenance /
customer
service
Share community strategy
with colleagues in the
maintenance team and
explore possibilities for e-mail
maintenance requests
AHM to discuss with
Regional Surveyor to
ascertain feasibility of emailing maintenance
requests.
AHM
July 2010
Organise regular meetings
with residents – bringing
residents from six schemes
together to discuss priorities
AHM to invite residents from
KLWN area to a meeting,
arrange venue convenient
for the six schemes.
AHM
September
2010
Discuss ways to engage
with residents to best serve
their needs.
AHM
September
2010
Increase amount of
information available to
residents – credit union
information and benefits,
AHM to gather information
on credit unions and
benefits, using internet and
local authorities, pass to
residents either during
estate visits or at meeting.
AHM
September
2010
Contact relevant team within
the Local Authority with
AHM to investigate
neighbourhood watch
AHM
September
2010
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regard to the neighbourhood
watch scheme
scheme, using internet and
through discussion with
local authority. AHM to
pass on information during
estate visit and discuss with
residents at meeting.
Pass information to LA, with
where necessary, a request
for enhanced service
provision.
AHM to prepare a report for
LA.
AHM
November
2010
Inform residents of feedback
from LA.
AHM to circulate feedback
from LA via new Community
strategy or newsletter.
AHM
January
2011
Provide fuller
information on
diversity of
residents
AHM to source information
from data held by Hastoe
AHM to circulate via next
Community Strategy
AHM
November
2010
Provide
feedback on
services
AHM to gather feedback from
local authority or service
provider
AHM to circulate feedback
via revised Community
Strategy
AHM
January
2011
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Action Plan Schedule
July 2010
- ascertain if maintenance requests can be e-mailed to property services team
September 2010
- gather and summarise information regarding: youth activities; public transport provision and any localised
transport initiatives; credit unions; benefits; courses available; neighbourhood watch scheme.
- pass information to residents at a meeting to be held for all three schemes. Discuss the findings and ascertain
what improvements (if any) are required.
- pass on information via newsletter and mailing to those residents who did not attend meeting and invite
comments.
November 2010
- residents’ comments will be passed to local authority and / or services providers with, where necessary
a request for enhanced service provision.
- provide fuller information on diversity of residents
January 2011
- feedback from local authority and / or service provider to be forwarded to residents in the form of a revised
Community Strategy.
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