Development land prices slip but market remains ‘robust’
Development land prices have fallen by approaching seven per cent in the region in the past year in the face of a tough housing market although there remains demand for ‘good quality’ sites. Research from Savills shows that in line with national trends, the value of urban sites in the East of England has dropped by 6.5 pc and greenfield values by 3.3pc in the last 12 months. But the property firm says the development land market remains robust – although buyers are being selective and putting more emphasis on certainty of delivery, planning status and expected sales. Abigail Jones (photo, right), head of development at Savills in Cambridge, said: “Buyer interest is strongest for schemes of 100–300 homes with limited infrastructure requirements, reflecting a continued focus on deliverable, high-quality sites….Demand also remains strong in key urban locations where land is scarce, particularly Cambridge, where competition for sites continues to support market activity.” Herts and Cambs continue to perform well and Beds remains popular particularly sites linked to East West Rail.
Richard Shuldham of Savills in Norfolk added: “Across Norwich and the principal Norfolk market towns there remains competition for sites capable of delivering family housing in volumes aligned with local demand, while developers continue to favour locations with strong transport links, established amenities and proven sales evidence.” Savills also points to signs of London-based developers seeking land in the region as it has become tougher to build homes profitably in the capital.
Firms’ confidence in their own trading prospects mounts in the region
Firms in the East of England are increasingly confident in their own prospects although they have become more doubtful on the outlook for the economy, according to a business barometer survey from Lloyds. Its August survey showed an eight point rise to 65 per cent in firms’ confidence in their own trading outlook in the region but optimism on the economy, fell 26 points to 22 pc. Firms in the region reported that stronger customer demand (81pc) was driving increased confidence in their own prospects. Kirsty Sadler, regional director for the East of England at Lloyds, said: “While there’s been a dip in terms of overall business confidence in the East of England, it’s encouraging that our firms are reporting resilience when it comes to their own trading outlook.” The stronger customer demand that many have also cited shows that there are still causes for optimism within our regional business community.” Overall business confidence in the East of England sits at 44pc, down from 53 pc in July but above the 12-month average of 42pc.
Power connection marks key step for expansion at Norfolk business park
Plans for a major expansion at the Johnston Quarter business park at Snetterton in Norfolk have taken a key step forward with a £250,000 investment to connect to a primary electricity substation in the area. The substation was delivered by Breckland Council, in partnership with UK Power Networks, in 2023, following £3.5 million grant funding. Johnston Quarter’s connection will provide the power capacity for up to 360,000 sq ft of new industrial, warehousing, manufacturing and commercial space. When complete, the hope is that the expansion will create more than 1,000 jobs and generate around £57.3 million in gross value annually. Rob McIndoe, director of Johnston Quarter, said: “The new power connection addresses a long-standing constraint on development at Johnston Quarter, and has only been made possible by the earlier investment by Breckland Council. Combined with the planning permission granted earlier this year, this marks a significant milestone for the business park.”
IT firm expands with move to larger Suffolk hq
Suffolk-based IT and telecoms provider ICS has relocated to a larger hq in the county as the business grows across the East. The firm’s move to Broomvale Business Centre at Little Blakenham near Ipswich increases its space from 1,500 sq ft to 2,259 sq ft in the new hq to support its expanding team and operations. Over the past 12 months, ICS has appointed four new members of staff, including three engineers and one digital marketing executive, as demand for its managed IT and telecoms services grows. It also won the growth business of the year award at the 2026 East Anglian Daily Times business awards. Craig Starling, director at ICS, said: “The additional space gives us room to grow our team, provide a better space to meet with current and prospective clients, and continue delivering the level of service we’re known for.” ICS supports businesses across Suffolk, Norfolk, Essex and the wider East Anglia region with IT support, cybersecurity, cloud services, business telecoms and managed technology solutions.
Insurance broker named community partner of Ipswich Town FC
Insurance broker Alan Boswell Group has been named as one of Ipswich Town FC’s new community partners under a two-year sponsorship agreement. The 450-employee insurance and risk management firm acquired its Ipswich office in 2025 which was rebranded to Alan Boswell Group earlier this year. It also has offices in Norwich, Bury St Edmunds and further offices in Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire. Andrew Thompson (photo, right), regional director at Alan Boswell Group, said: “We’re proud to be a sponsor of Ipswich Town at an exciting time for our business in Suffolk. We have had a presence in the area for many years, and we see this partnership as an important step in strengthening our profile across the town and wider county. We know the importance of grassroots and professional sports across the region, and there is no better way to support our local community than partnering with the club.”
Andy Wooldridge, commercial director at Ipswich Town FC, said: “Alan Boswell Group are a well-known brand and a big employer in the region, which makes them a great fit for our new community partnership scheme.“
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Refinancing at growing Norwich-based media group
FRP Corporate Finance has advised Norwich-based B2B media, events and intelligence group Finelight Group on a refinancing to support the business’s continued growth and acquisition strategy. The new financing package from HSBC Corporate refinances the group’s existing debt facilities. Andrew Schofield, chief executive officer of Finelight Group, said: “This refinancing gives Finelight the flexibility and capacity to continue pursuing our buy-and-build strategy. We have a clear plan, a strong pipeline of opportunities and an experienced team focused on building a leading group of specialist B2B media, events & intelligence businesses.”
Call for stronger enforcement against fly-tippers in Norfolk
Fly-tippers in Norfolk are less likely to face a fine or prosecution than anywhere else in the East of England. An analysis of Defra figures by Norfolk waste and recycling operator PSH Environmental showed that Norfolk’s district councils recorded 17,885 fly-tipping incidents in 2024-25, issuing only 59 fixed penalty notices and four prosecutions between them; a penalty rate of 0.35 per cent. The findings come as the government prepares to increase the maximum fixed penalty notice for fly-tipping fivefold from £1,000 to £5,000. For the East of England as a whole, 1.45pc of incidents resulted in a fine or prosecution, four times Norfolk’s rate, while Essex reached 2.91pc. PSH Environmental described the disparity as a “postcode lottery” and called for stronger enforcement backed by greater council resources and investment in local waste infrastructure. Photo: PSH Environmental shovel shredding
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