My ojections to this site are the lack of infrastructure to support the development, the confusing and contradictory nature of the application and the impact I believe it will have on my land and business intentions.
The Heath and the Turn roads are single track and already carry heavy traffic to farms and timber businesses. There are no pavements, verges or lighting. In some places it is difficult for an adult pedestrian to walk and with additional car traffic it would be very dangerous either for a child or an adult with limited mobility or with a pushchair or pram. All the local facilities listed in the application form are well over a mile from the site and because of the inadequacy of the roads for pedestrians, car travel would be essential. The HELAA states that the school is within walking distance, which it is, at just over a mile, but in addition to the points described above, a significant stretch of the road to the school is like a farmyard and in wet weather is running with pig muck.
My understanding is that the site could support over 30 houses - perhaps an additional 30 - 50 cars. The junction from Church Lane onto the A140 is single track and due to the increased traffic volume on the Cromer road, cars can wait for some time on Church Lane to join the main road. More than 3 or 4 cars waiting will prevent any cars from the A140 turning in. There would then potentially be a tailback onto the A140 which would be extremely dangerous. Without a full upgrade of the Heath road, including junction control onto the A 140 the proposed development would give rise to significant dangers both to car users and to pedestrians. If an access onto the Turn is proposed this would only be increased.
The application form states that there are no implications for or from neighbouring premises. It overlooks the presence of the adjacent Boarding Kennels and an Agricultural Machinery Business. While these businesses currently fit well into the rural surroundings of the hamlet, placing that many families so close to them can only give rise to complaint and harm to existing business concerns.
The application states that there are no concerns with the site which would give rise to additional costs for developers. The site has a downhill fall sloping away from the road. Depending on where a sewer connection is made there may well be significant costs in either pumping or deep excavation. There is also the issue of surface water. The HELAA stated that there would be no flood risk. My land, on which we are developing a horticultural business, floods at least annually and we have put time and money into containing this. If the land which lies above us is concreted or paved, even with sustainable drainage techniques, the run-off onto our land would be increased. If it were to be possible to contain all surface water within the site it is likely that there would be significant and ongoing costs to a developer.