Re: GNLP 0315 & GNLP0496
I wish to put the following points in objection to the current Greater Norwich Development Plan regarding the further urban development of the village of Mulbarton. Whilst I recognise the need for further housing in Norfolk there are a number of issues pertaining to the further development of the village of Mulbarton in particular:
*Both proposed developments are very large and will double the size of the current village. The current services and infrastructure can not support such a development. Mulbarton already acts as a service village to several smaller settlements which are being further developed for housing. The local services such as the schools, surgery and shops are already struggling to accommodate the number of residents. With an ageing population and the possible influx of young families in new housing these would be in danger of failing the village through lack of capacity. With the siting of the medical practice and the school there is no logical room for development of either.
*The most recent development of Oakley Park in Mulbarton which on completion will have one hundred and eighty new dwellings already poses significant impact on stretched local services. It seems irresponsible to plan more housing while the full impact of these new homes is not yet fully experienced by the village.
- In the past the village has developed steadily and gradually, not with the immediate impact of large scale developments which exceed its capacity.
*Local amenities such as retail, leisure and social facilities would all be affected to the detriment of the villagers due to lack of capacity. The village's historic core would suffer.
*The economic impact on the village community will be poor. Developers funding in the past has been mainly spent outside the village and new promised amenities disappear with the final plan. As a dormitory settlement of Norwich most of the inhabitants "spend" will be in Norwich, especially as scarce local facilities become even more overused.
*Communication links and transport are not adequate to support further growth The B1113 is already congested in the village and at the A140 junction more houses would increase this pressure resulting in an unwarranted increase of pollution, road maintenance requirements and a higher potential for accidents.
*Transport in the village is already congested with a large influx of parked cars from the outlying villages using the shop, school and medical facilities. Buses and refuse collection lorries find navigating the roads difficult.
*Further development would have significant impact on the ecological balance of the area including the likelihood of increased surface flooding on the heavy clay base the village is situated on. The report states that this would be hard to mitigate.
*The proposed sites are greenfield. Currently, not all the brownfield sites in greater Norwich have been developed, many are targeted at uses such as providing student accommodation rather than meeting local needs. Developers have also land banked sites which could be used.
*Mulbarton is situated in the countryside with the green belt buffer between the village and urban Norwich, this is being eroded, reducing its economic and environmental benefits.
*Finally the residents of Mulbarton chose to live in a village community with a particular lifestyle and benefits due to its location and nature. If they wanted an urban lifestyle they would not reside here, they value the traditions, values and norms of the village which will be eroded and then destroyed with further large scale development.