I have lived at the above address in, Wortwell, Norfolk for over thirty years. I have only recently become aware of the proposed allocation of the above site being 13. 75 hectares of agricultural land located between the High Road, Wortwell and Low Road Wortwell (GNLP2121) for mixed use development within the local plan.

I strongly object to the proposed allocation and any subsequent development on this site on a number of grounds, fully support the official objection lodged by Wortwell Parish Council to this proposal and urge the County Council to reject the designation of this site for development in the light of the reasoned and justifiable grounds set out in our Parish Council's official objection.

The site is inappropriate for development. It would lead to the radical alteration in character of our rural village and to it effectively becoming a suburb of our nearest town, Harleston which also continues to see significant expansion, increasing pressure on already over­stretched local services). I understand that the site could accommodate over 400 new houses. I believe that Wortwell currently has 270 houses. Essentially, what would result from any such development is the building of a completely new village (or suburb of Harleston), swamping the existing rural community, damaging its character and the environment in which it is located, irreparably.

In addition and with particular reference to the impact on my own and my immediate neighbour's properties, it is clear from the plan that the development's southern boundary would come extremely close to the top of the high and steep bank behind my property and those of my neighbours. This bank is a natural landscape feature and comprises light, sandy soil, with the water meadows of the village on the opposite side of the narrow lane. From my own experience over the previous thirty-two years in which I have lived in my cottage, the bank has a tendency to erode and soil is often deposited at its base in my garden after heavy rainfall. I am extremely concerned that development of the site would result in a significant increase in water run-off, leading to the rapid further erosion of the bank along its length and to the movement of soil, water and instability, damaging my property and that of others along the road, a number of which are listed buildings.

The proposed relatively narrow gap between the top of the bank and the boundary of the development site would, naturally, become a walkway and the location of so many homes would increase the number of walkers along the top of the bank. This would have a significant impact upon the privacy currently enjoyed by my home (and those of others) and would also increase the erosion of the ground at the top of the steep bank.

In addition, I consider that the environmental impact of such a development would be significant. The site is currently agricultural land and this should not be considered appropriate for development before all brownfield and infill sites have been exhausted.

The site links with other agricultural land as you proceed away from the village towards Shotford Bridge and forms an important aspect of our village maintaining its rural character and connection with the surrounding wildlife. The site is located on higher ground and its visual impact on the valley would be immeasurable. The impact of so many new homes on this rural character, the environment and wildlife cannot be understated.

The size of the development site is completely disproportionate in scale to the existing community and its setting. I also consider that the marshes bordering the River Waveney would also be affected by the close proximity of, effectively, another village and its occupants. A significantly increased footfall over an important part of the river valley would damage the plants and wildlife which contribute to the biodiversity of the area and the county as a whole.

The village and surrounding infrastructure and services are already hard pressed. The village itself offers little by way of services (limited public transport, no shop, no school, no garage for fuel) and I fail to understand how the nearest town's (Harleston) medical practice, parking facilities and other services would be able to support such a number of new households. This is even more acute when considering the ongoing developments in Harleston and other villages in the area. Inevitably, the traffic generated by the development of the site will be significant. As the village's services are limited and there are minimal employment opportunities within the village, regular car journeys by each household from and to the site will be required. Any development would not be sustainable for these reasons. In addition, the junctions at each end of the village with the A 143 (particularly the T-junction) can be dangerous and the increase in traffic onto the main road will make these junctions more so.

I can only end my repeating my concern that the allocation of a site of this size and location for development could be contemplated, let alone seriously proposed. Once again, I cannot emphasise enough how strongly I object to the proposal. I completely endorse the official objection to the site proposal submitted by Wortwell Parish Council. The site should be retained as agricultural land and the village's rural character preserved.