The proposed application comes with a promise of a new school that is neither required (currently rolls are falling) nor needed (the existing school has received a 'good' Ofsted report, and is in a good state of repair). Further, there is no guarantee that funding will be found to build the new school, and therefore it should not be considered as pertinent in judging this application.

The strategic vision and objectives for the Local Plan are set out in the Joint Core Strategy.

The key objectives relevant to this application are:

Objective 3 - To promote economic growth and diversity and provide a wide
range of jobs. No new jobs will be created in the Village.

Objective 6 - To make sure people have ready access to services. The Village of Brooke has minimal services. It has no medical centre or dental surgery, one small(farm)shop, a petrol station, three places of worship, a primary school, a small parish hall, a small post office, two public houses and one café. These are sufficient services for a small village.

Objective 7 - To enhance transport provision to meet the needs of existing
and future populations while reducing travel need and impact. The creation of a new estate and possible school to service surrounding areas will create a need to travel and increase traffic on a narrow C-class road.

Objective 8 - To positively protect and enhance the individual character and
culture of the area. Building estates outside of the development plan, on greenfield sites, and close to the conservation boundary (that contains at least one grade 11 listed building close to the development) does not appear to be a positive act that will enhance the character of the Village. Brooke has not been identified in South Norfolk's Local Plan as a key growth location nor a key service centre, and therefore smaller, infill developments, are more likely to increase the housing to a level more in keeping with size, current services, and character of the village.

Objective 9 - To protect, manage and enhance the natural, built and historic
environment, including key landscapes, natural resources and areas of natural
habitat or nature conservation value. Brooke is a Village of historic interest and much of which lies within a conservation area. The proposed application to develop agricultural land lying outside of the development envelope and on the edge of a conservation areas appears to be more of a destructive then protective act.

More specifically, the present application, does not appear to be in line with the following South Norfolk Development Management Policies:

DM 1.4 Environmental Quality and local distinctiveness. It is difficult to see how this application will positively improve 'the quality of the built, natural and historic environment, and reflecting of local circumstances (paragraph 10 of the National Policy Planning Framework) or is "making a positive contribution to local character and distinctiveness" (paragraph 15 of the National Policy Planning Framework).

DM 3.10 Promotion of Sustainable Transport. The creation of an estate and a school that does not service the local needs of the village will create not reduce the need to travel and associated emission of greenhouse gases.

DM 3.11 Road Safety and the free flow of traffic. The proposed development will increase traffic to and from the village. Proposed access to the school and estate is on a corner of a narrow road with restricted visibility. The lane already has high traffic flows at peak times as it is being used as an alternative route to Norwich.The problem could be compounded, if during school drop-off and pick-up times, there is an increase of onroad parking that will affect both the safety and flow of traffic. High Green also attracts cyclists, walkers and horse riders, all of whose safety could be adversely affected by increased traffic along the lane.

DM3.12 Provision of vehicle parking. The application does not appear to adequately address the parking requirements for the new school. Failure to take school parking requirements into account could result in inappropriate, unsightly, and unsafe parking.

DM3.16 Improving the level of local community facilities. The proposed new primary school lies outside of the development boundary. There is no business case or available funding for a new school and therefore building it in the 'countryside' cannot be justified.

DM4.8 Protection of Trees and Hedgerows. The impact on trees and significant hedgerows is unclear in the application. The unnecessary destruction of trees and hedgerows should be avoided.

It is therefore difficult to see how this new development is a sustainable one (DM 1.1) for the village as it makes limited economic, social and environmental improvements for the current and future generations. The "presumption in favour of sustainable development" as required by the National Planning Policy Framework is brought into question by this application, and therefore on this account alone it should be rejected.