Norwich Western Link update – a win for wildlife!

Wednesday 22nd January 2025

Buglife is delighted to hear that Norfolk County Council has withdrawn its damaging planning application to build the Norwich Western Link.

Buglife has been working with local nature conservation partners and experts to highlight that the Norwich Western Link would have an unacceptable impact on Norfolk’s wildlife and landscape, and would not get planning permission. Despite these warnings, the Council pressed ahead with its application.

Our primary concern has always been the damage the road would have on the network of ancient woodlands, grasslands, chalk streams, floodplains and veteran trees in the countryside west of Norwich. This includes the River Wensum Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Special Area of Conservation (SAC) which provides habitat for the likes of the Globally Endangered White-clawed Crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes) and Globally Vulnerable Desmoulin’s Whorl Snail (Vertigo moulinsiana), as well as a rich assemblage of freshwater invertebrates including beetles and mayflies.

Following the withdrawal, the future of the road is in doubt, allowing these vital habitats to remain undisturbed and continue to provide homes, not just for invertebrates, but also the last known super colony of Barbastelle Bat and thriving populations of owls, Linnet, Yellowhammer and other wildlife.

Jamie Robins, Programmes Manager for Buglife, said:We’re delighted that the Norwich Western Link Road application has been withdrawn. This ill-thought scheme would have put further pressure on the rare chalk river habitat of the River Wensum and further fragmented ancient woodland and grassland. We hope Norfolk County Council use this opportunity to prioritise nature’s recovery in their future plans.”

Eliot Lyne, CEO of Norfolk Wildlife Trust, states:This is great news and shows that by working together to speak up for nature and backed by sound evidence, we can defend and protect Norfolk’s incredible wildlife.

‘However, it remains disappointing that Norfolk County Council’s process and application to build the road did not avoid unacceptable harm to wildlife in the first place.

‘We appreciate that there are transport congestion issues in the west of Norwich which need a resolution. We now call upon Norfolk County Council to find a solution which supports nature’s recovery in Norfolk, because when nature thrives, so does the economic and social prosperity of our county. This was clearly not the case with the proposed Western Link – and we’re glad that this has finally been realised.

‘Thank you to everyone who supported our campaign over the last five years, sending a strong message to the council that there was strong opposition to the road across the county and beyond.


Main Image Credit: An area of woodland directly on the route of the Western Link, © Iain Robinson