Facelift for Snetterton Sunday market

Adam Gretton A popular Sunday market is set for a major facelift after its owner submitted major plans for the redevelopment of a site along the A11 corridor.More than a million shoppers visit the weekly market next to Snetterton race track every year.

Adam Gretton

A popular Sunday market is set for a major facelift after its owner submitted major plans for the redevelopment of a site along the A11 corridor.

More than a million shoppers visit the weekly market next to Snetterton race track every year. But the owner of Snetterton Park yesterday said he hoped to boost tourism in the area by revealing proposals for a large model and toy exhibition centre, covered market, and relocated tank museum.

Trevor Warner, director of Cliffsky, which owns the 60-acre site off the A11, said he hoped his development would encourage officials at Snetterton Circuit to begin their business park and expansion scheme.

The plans, which have been submitted to Breckland Council, would see the creation of four large office buildings, garden centre, new Sunday market buildings, and a new home for the East England Military Museum, which is based at Barnham, near Thetford.

Mr Warner said the development, which is set to cost more than �5m, will create jobs and potentially bring leading toy manufacturers to Norfolk.

"It is all about tourism and the model and toy expo will be a world-class attraction with displays from major model and toy manufacturers from across the world. Nobody has done it before. I am looking to attract some major players in the industry to use the office buildings," he said.

Mr Warner said the proposals, which are set to be discussed by district councillors next month, would modernise the Sunday market, which has been running at Snetterton for 26 years. If approved, work could start later this year.

There are also plans to set up a permanent exhibition to the 96th Bomb Group, which used Snetterton Heath as an airfield during the second world war.