New pocket park planned for Dereham

March 5, 2020

A new community pocket park is to be developed, offering a new tranquil public meeting space, community garden and a performance area in the heart of Dereham. The plans for the park will now become a reality in 2020 due to a successful funding partnership bid between the community group, The aboutDereham Partnership,  the site landowner Dencora and Breckland Council.  A £15,000 grant has just been awarded from the Pocket Park Fund, part of the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, for the new community space which will now be match funded by Breckland Council to ensure this project proceeds.

The £30,000 funding will help transform an overgrown plot of unused land, adjacent to Wrights Walk in Dereham town shopping centre, into a community garden, ideal for local visitors or residents to relax in, catch up with friends or watch a community performance in the heart of this busy Breckland market town.

Cllr Mark Robinson, Executive Member for Community, Leisure and Culture at Breckland Council, commented: “This innovative project will deliver a wonderful focal point for both residents and visitors to enjoy, enhancing their time spent in the town centre. This project has been made possible with match funding from Breckland’s Market Town Initiative programme and clearly demonstrates our commitment to town centre regeneration and supporting the High Street”.

Mike Webb from aboutDereham commented “We are incredibly pleased to receive the £15,000 Pocket Park grant award and the £15,000 match funding from Breckland Council, which will help develop this unsightly area in Dereham into a beautiful focal point for residents of  Dereham and surrounding areas. We will be working with our members to provide a programme of events  once the site has been fully developed”. Ed King, Managing Director of Dencora stated “We are very pleased to be offering the community this unique central area to enhance the shopping experience in the town centre and provide a valuable green meeting space for the whole community to enjoy”.