The Parish Council is unanimously opposed to the proposed new development. At a well-attended public meeting, called by the Council on February 19th 2018 in Colton Village Hall, there was no support for the proposed development. The residents of Marlingford and Colton Parish value their environment as it is. This was clearly established in the Parish Plan for Marlingford and Colton in 2006 (available at marlingfordandcoltonpc@norfolkparishes.gov.uk). As indicated in the Parish Plan, they value the quiet, friendly and rural nature of where they live, with a very strong appreciation of the local landscape and wildlife. Nothing has happened since then, including various public and parish council meetings, to suggest that those views have changed.

The Council's objections are:

Colton is classified as an Other Village with a defined development boundary: the proposed site is outside that boundary. The proposal is for residential development, holiday accommodation and/or staff accommodation related to Barnham Broom Golf and Country Club.

If used for residential development, the site would be separated from any existing settlement and therefore would have limited access to existing services. There would be no accessible primary school, as defined in the Growth Options document: a school within two miles from the centre of the settlement and accessible the whole way from the outskirts of the settlement via a pavement. Further, primary schools in adjacent villages are likely to have capacity constraints. It would affect the villages of Marlingford and Colton by being visible from them, and by affecting the adjoining roads, which are single-track, with limited passing places, and well used by walkers. There is, as far as the Council is aware, no access to an existing sewerage network, the water supply would need upgrading, and possibly also the electrical supply. Several areas are subject to flooding. Part of the site is grade 2 agricultural land.

If used for holiday accommodation and/or staff accommodation, the site is remote from Barnham Broom Golf and Country Club, with a corresponding increase in traffic between the two sites. The route (about 2 miles) through Colton would involve the Marlingford Road, Colton, which is single-track with limited passing places, and Church Lane, Colton, which is single-track with few passing places; Bickerston Hill, in particular, is quite steep with a blind bend, and very steep sides to the carriageway, with no passing place. The part of Church Lane nearest to the Golf Course is frequently flooded. Other routes would be longer. All of which seems inconsistent with the objective in the Norfolk Local Transport Plan of reducing the need to travel.

If it was considered as part of the proposed new settlement, GNLP0415A-G, the Council's objections would be the same as in its submission relating to that proposal; those comments are shown under Honingham Parish.