Following recent phased/cumulative development to the north of the village it is difficult to comprehend how continued development on this scale (600 homes) could be considered sustainable in such a confined area. The current highway infrastructure for Horsford ensures there are long delays at peak times of the day when leaving the village while any additional expansion in vehicle numbers on the scale being promoted through GNLP 2160 would leave Mill Lane/Kingfisher Way gridlocked.

Horsford Woods, which is a County Wildlife Site, is already under intense pressure from noise, artificial light, loss of wildlife habitats and, increasingly, overuse. A balance must now be achieved by looking at large sites for development south of the village closer to the Broadland Northway. While still providing new housing this would have less impact on the village and would be located closer to, and therefore more supportive of, any new retail opportunities in the area. I believe as a village we have had more than our fair share of new housing when considering the existing facilities are struggling. This view is shared widely and acknowledged at Thorpe House. Drayton surgery said NO to Phase 2 so we cannot anticipate any improvement on the back of Phase 3.

The Nest within Horsford Parish opened this year with ambitious plans to promote football and other sporting activities. Positioned adjacent to the A140 for easy access The Nest offers extensive and growing facilities in partnership with key supporters including the Norfolk FA. The potential provision of duplicate facilities over and above that already available within the parish as part of promoting GNLP 2160 would not accord with the Horsford Neighbour Plan for this area and with additional vehicle movements through existing or proposed developments on a scale unimaginable it simply could not, in planning terms, be sustainable. The potential loss of any public and amenity land to any one single interest organisation in an area struggling to preserve its natural landscape character would be to deny the village much needed open space and its rural heritage.

The GNLP team having assessed this site commented:

"GNLP2160 is on the eastern side of the village adjacent to the primary school, a recently completed residential development, as well as a recent permission for 259 homes. Constraints include ecology and heritage impacts and the need for significant highways improvements".

"To conclude, GNLP0359R and GNLP2160 might be appropriate for housing, but are not as well related to the built form as some of the smaller, previously-submitted sites. The other two sites may be suitable for development, providing good access onto Broadland Northway"

This would suggest other options are preferable...

It is also important to recognise that now the Norwich Policy Area has an abundant housing land supply for 8.04 years, policies once considered out of date should be given weight in any decision making process preventing any unsuitable and over scaled housing development taking place beyond settlement limits.