Site totally out of character for Rockland St Mary which is a 'Service Village' which the SNC Local Plan & Policy 15 of the JCS designates as suitable for "small scale housing growth".
200 + description of site dwelling density looks contrary to central government guidance to Local Authorities e.g. "major developments of less than 30 dwellings per hectare should not be supported". The potential number of dwellings based on the guidance would give rise to 465 dwellings and a more realistic proposed dwelling number should have been the basis on which the consultation was carried out. Had a more realistic figure been used I am certain even more objections would had been made.
No identified local need for further housing.
There's already an agreed village housing expansion of 20 houses on land adjacent to Bee Orchid Way. This is more than sufficient 'block' expansion up to 2036.
The development is outside the village plan & contrary to SNDC and national policies.
Additional Housing to support the GNLP should be concentrated around the Northern Distributor Road, on the A11 corridor or within the City of Norwich itself. Unconstrained and exponential housing growth in rural villages threatens the quality of life of residents, impacts on wildlife and the local ecology and erodes the natural beauty of the area which is a tourist destination being on the fringe of the Norfolk Broads National Park.
Situated in a rural area isolated from village services and (capacity constrained) utilities.
10-15m land height would have a detrimental impact on skyline, landscape and views of SSSI/AONB.
Out of context with village form and character.
Substantial increase of vehicular traffic (minimum 600 car journeys per day including residents and delivery vehicles) through Rockland, Bramerton and Kirby Bedon on a road that is already struggling to accommodate a variety of large vehicles including agricultural harvesters and tractors.
Detrimental to the National Cycle Route and the safety of cyclists.
Would be visible from Broad Area National Park.
Access road onto the Low Road would lead to car headlights projecting over Rockland Marshes as cars descended the access road disturbing a variety of wildlife and nesting birds.
The land owner's own signage at the edge of the proposed site claims the presence of barn owls stating that "Each pair needs up to 50 hectares of rough grassland or 20 hectares of strips within 2km of their nest site to successfully rear chicks." Having laid claim to creating large areas dedicated to environmental good practice, ecology has been encouraged to settle on the proposed site. A development of this size, or of any size, on this site would be catastrophic to wildlife.
The site has a rich ecology with many species of wildlife flourishing on or immediately adjacent to the proposed site.
Risk to local water courses due to run off.
Increased roadside litter.
Inadequate highways, no pedestrian pavements and access issues.
Not sustainable, no economic, social, environmental benefits.
Loss of amenity and footpaths.
Unintended consequences of additional adjacent development.
Against the precedent of previous planning decision.
Additional Light pollution in a Dark Skies Area.