Dereham’s mayor, Ray O’Callaghan, shovels a sod of earth to mark the start of work on Crane’s Green, a new 39-home all-affordable development by Flagship Homes. Also pictured, from left, Stephen Jones and Tony Tann from Flagship Homes, Cllr Sarah Suggitt, Jason Goodey from Cocksedge and Cllr Harry Clarke.
A historic brownfield site in the heart of Dereham is set to be transformed into a thriving community, as work on 39 affordable homes gets under way.
Flagship Homes, part of Bromford Flagship LiveWest, is behind the project off South Green, a site many locals will remember as the former parts and service depot of trailer manufacturer Crane Fruehauf, which has sat empty for 17 years.
The development will be called Crane’s Green and a new street at the site will be named Fruehauf Close, as nods to the industrial heritage of the site.
The scheme, part-funded by Homes England, will deliver 34 homes for social rent and five for shared ownership. The mix includes six one-bedroom apartments, a two-bedroom bungalow, 22 two-bedroom houses and 10 three-bedroom houses – all designed to meet local housing need in the market town.
Holding the shovels are Dereham’s mayor Ray O’Callaghan and Breckland’s deputy leader Councillor Sarah Suggitt with others on site at Crane’s Green.
Tony Tann, Managing Director of Flagship Homes, said: “This site has been part of Dereham’s story for decades, and it’s fantastic to see it starting a new chapter. People in the town have watched it sit unused for years, and we’re very pleased that construction is under way.
“This project means 39 families and individuals in Dereham will have a genuinely affordable place to call home.”
Crane Fruehauf operated from the site until 2005, and it was then used for a further three years by FP&S Ltd before the firm relocated to Rash’s Green, leaving the 0.93-hectare plot empty ever since.
Breckland District Council’s Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Housing and Planning, Councillor Sarah Suggitt, said: “This project means more local people will benefit from homes they can genuinely afford, helping residents stay close to work, family, and their community connections.”
The site sits behind Dereham’s branch of The Range, but road access will be from South Green. Principal contractor Cocksedge is Flagship’s main partner on the project, which involves significant groundwork including contamination remediation of the former industrial land.
Unlocking the site has required extensive collaboration between Flagship Homes, Breckland Council’s planning and housing teams, and Homes England.
The first homes should be ready to move into by spring next year.
Further quotes:
Cllr Sarah Suggitt: “It also reflects our Breckland Housing Strategy, adopted in 2024, which set out a renewed commitment to collaboration and proactive engagement with partners. This site is a perfect example of that strategy in action – working together to enable the right types of homes in the right places, supporting the needs of our residents now and into the future.
“I want to recognise the significant work from our housing and planning teams, who have helped unlock what has been a very complex site – from nutrient neutrality to contamination remediation, to ensuring that the housing mix reflects what our communities need. Their commitment and engagement with the developer have made it possible for this all-affordable scheme to move forward, and it’s fantastic to see it now taking shape.”
Jason Goodey, Residential Operations Manager at Cocksedge: “We’re proud to be delivering this scheme for Flagship Homes. It’s a complex site with real history behind it, and our team has been working hard to get the groundwork right so we can build homes that will serve this community for generations. It’s always rewarding to see a project like this take shape, especially one that’s entirely affordable housing.”
Ray O’Callaghan, Mayor of Dereham: “The old Crane Fruehauf site is well known to everyone in Dereham. To see it finally being turned into affordable homes for local people is wonderful news for the town.”