Councillors at Norfolk County Council's Infrastructure and Development Select Committee have urged officers to include the King's Lynn ferry in the Norfolk Strategic Infrastructure Delivery Plan (NSIDP), warning that its uncertain condition makes the matter urgent.

Two members argued the ferry should be treated as a priority alongside major road schemes such as the A47, A17 Pullover junction and A10, pointing to its role in reducing car journeys and easing cross-river movement in one of the most congested towns in the east of England.

One member highlighted that the ferry had undergone emergency repairs the previous year and that structural issues remained unresolved, describing the situation as urgent.

Officers explained that the ferry had been left out of the plan because it was in a reasonable state when the document was prepared, and because King's Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council — which is responsible for its maintenance — had not formally put it forward for inclusion. Officers said the County Council would wait for such a request before adding it.

The NSIDP is a shared document setting out Norfolk's high-level strategic infrastructure priorities to support housing growth and economic development. It is used to make the case for government investment and to guide partnership working.

The same discussion raised concerns about congestion in King's Lynn more broadly. Members noted the town had been identified as one of the most congested in the east of England, and that planned housing growth — including around 4,000 homes linked to the West Winch area — would put further pressure on the road network.

Members also welcomed continued inclusion of the A149 King's Lynn bypass in the plan and asked for feasibility work on that route to continue. The committee noted the current 2025 plan and made a number of suggestions to improve future versions of the document.