Houghton Estate
Wyld Cabins and the Houghton Estate are excited to present their proposals for a new eco-retreat in a commercial woodland at the north-western edge of the Estate that offers guests the chance to unwind, digitally detox, and reconnect with nature.
Thank you for viewing our dedicated project website. Our public consultation ended on Tuesday 18th November and our survey can no longer be completed. However, if you wish to still submit any feedback, please feel free to get in touch by emailing:
Wyld has entered into a long-term partnership with the Houghton Estate and will be the tenant of the land in the woodland, with the Estate continuing to be the landowner. The cabins will be available to book throughout the year and we expect an average stay of two to four nights.
We are dedicated to promoting and encouraging sustainable tourism to this part of Norfolk. We want guests to fully embed themselves in the beautiful woodland and fully disconnect with the outside world and reconnect with nature in our high-quality cabins. We have therefore designed the cabins to blend in with surroundings.
The site
The site is situated in commercial woodland on the north-western edge of the Estate, far from Houghton Hall. It sits west of the Bircham Road with a singular access point coming off and entering the wood.
The site covers an approximately 49 acre section of the approximately 87 acre wood. Within these 49 acres, the cabins will be spread out to ensure low density and low impact.
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WYLD
Wyld provides opportunities for people to reconnect with themselves, each other and their natural surroundings, away from the stress and expectations of the modern digital world.
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Houghton Estate
The Houghton Estate is a 4,500 acre estate centred on Houghton Hall, home to Lord Cholmondeley and his family. The Hall, gardens, and sculpture gardens are open to the public during the season.
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NTR Planning
NTR Planning is an RTPI Award winning independent firm of planning consultants with offices in London and Bristol. This team undertakes a diverse range of project work throughout the UK and Ireland, and is recognised for delivering high-quality planning advice and solutions.
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Holder Mathias architects
Holder Mathias operates throughout the United Kingdom and internationally delivering services in Architecture, Urban Design and Masterplanning. Clients include Center Parcs and Forest Holidays on their national development programme.
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Lanarca
Lanarca is an independent practice specialising in regeneration, strategic service review and business planning. This team works across strategic management, economic and social development and landscape design.
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Crestview Strategy UK
Crestview is a global public affairs agency with a specialist team in the built environment sector. This team conducts stakeholder and community engagement along with strategic communications for a wide range of sites across England.
Our vision
Our guests are typically single or couples looking to reconnect with nature, switch-off, and digitally detox to improve their mental wellbeing. Two bed family cabins are also offered for those looking to share their experience, as well as accessible cabins.
Our emerging masterplan includes:
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High-quality, blended into the existing woodland.
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Small cabin and service courtyard located at the edge of the site, providing guests with a selection of locally sourced produce.
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One per cabin, located in small clusters screened from view. There are additional parking spaces for staff.
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Small sauna and changing room with a terrace and outdoor plunge pool in a secluded location.
Our proposals bring about a range of benefits, including:
Sustainable design – we use sustainably crafted and responsibly sourced UK manufacturing high-quality cabins.
Low density – our cabins will be spread out one per every 1.2 acres to provide privacy and a sense of retreat.
Low impact – our cabins are manufactured off-site, limiting on-site construction activity and are supported above the woodland floor on low impact pads or screw piles.
Limited visibility – the cabins are carefully positioned and oriented in naturally screened positions. The natural timber cladding weathers to blend into the woodland over time.
Support local businesses – we are committed to source the food and drink for our guest hampers entirely from the local area.
Low traffic impact – we are anticipating an extra one vehicle every 10 minutes at most during peak times.
Improving the woodland – we are investing in new planting, woodland regeneration, and promoting a diverse and sustainable woodland.
Tourism benefits – encouraging visitors to West Norfolk, improving the tourism economy, aligning to West Norfolk’s Economic Strategy.
Biodiversity net gain – a minimum of 20% BNG.
Woodland management – we will protect, enhance, and retain the woodland. A detailed Woodland and Biodiversity Management Plan will ensure excellent stewardship, enhance ecology, and increase biodiversity.
Active travel – guests will be encouraged to use the network of local public footpaths and cycle routes, particularly the West View bridleway towards Houghton Hall (east) and Bircham Heath (west).
Ecologically sensitive – downward only low energy light fittings and blackout blinds prevent light spill into sensitive areas, preventing light pollution.
Economic benefits - the cabins are expected to bring c.£6m into the local economy from tourists with an expected GVA of c.£0.2m per year.
Landscape-led approach
Our proposals are underpinned and defined by the existing natural environment, and the opportunities available to enhance the health and biodiversity of the woodland.
Draft masterplan
We have carried out in depth ecological site and desktop studies to support reports that will be submitted as part of the planning application. We are dedicated to our landscape-led approach in the following ways:
Ecology – we are avoiding areas of high ecological value and have extensive plans to invest in, strengthen, and improve habitats within the woodland.
Landscape and Views – a Landscape and Visual Appraisal, together with a Historic Environment Desk Based Assessment has been conducted and will be submitted as part of the planning application. The cabins are significantly blended into the woodland and a landscape buffer zone around the site further minimises visibility.
Lighting - a minimal lighting strategy is proposed for the site, with low level bollards to limit lighting levels.
Infrastructure – we will implement compliant strategies for water and electrics. An on-site sewage treatment plant will be installed and a sustinable drainage strategy using rain gardens will manage storm water.
Construction strategy – cabins will be manufactured off-site and delivered to the site, greatly limiting on-site construction.
Landscape enhancement – enriching and strengthening the landscape throughout the site, including along boundaries to improve biodiversity, preserve privacy for our guests, and avoid views into our site.
Unfortunately, our public consultation ended on Tuesday 18th November and our survey can no longer be completed. However, if you wish to still submit any feedback, please get in touch via the contact details below.