Representations were submitted to the Regulation 18b consultation in December 2018 to support a Settlement Boundary at Thorpe End, which is within the Great and Little Plumstead Village Cluster as shown in Appendix 5 of the GNLP. It is understood that the re-appraisal of Settlement Boundaries is yet to take place and consultation will be undertaken at Regulation 19 stage. However, it is noted on the interactive map that a Settlement Boundary is identified for Thorpe End. The principle of a Settlement Boundary for Thorpe End is supported.

However, the draft Settlement Boundary should be adjusted to include a 14m strip of land to the south east of Thorpe End, south of Plumstead Road, to reflect the true physical boundary now apparent on the ground, which has come about due to changes in land use from agriculture to residential curtilage over 10 years ago, and would enable the inclusion of a plot of land adjacent to 50 Plumstead Road, which has potential for housing windfall development.

Please refer to the full representation “Supplemental Statement in Support of Representation to Q46 and Appendix 5 On behalf of Robert and Joy Gower (March 2020)” and Appendices 1 to 3.

In 2008, the owner of the field to the south east of Thorpe End sold an approximately 14 metre wide strip of land to all the adjacent homeowners. Most of the properties have subsequently used this land as residential curtilage and a new boundary has become established and matured, extended beyond the former village limits into the area designated as Landscape Buffer under GATAAP Policy GT2. Being over 10 years, the use of this land as residential curtilage is now an established use.

50 Plumstead Road was sold in 2009 without the 14 metre strip of land, so is in a different ownership, has remained fenced, and is no longer in agricultural use, which has created an under-used plot of land.

It is proposed that the Settlement Boundary is regularised by including this strip of land in the Thorpe End Settlement Boundary and removing it from the existing GT2 Landscape Buffer designation, to reflect the true physical boundary as now apparent on the ground.

The intention of Policy GT2 is to prevent coalescence between the Norwich Urban Fringe and new development. For Thorpe End, the policy states that development will not be permitted that would significantly intrude on the sense of separation between Thorpe End and new development. The 14 metre strip of land directly abutting Thorpe End is minimal in relation to the full extent of the Landscape Buffer designation so the minor adjustment to this boundary would not have an adverse impact on the function and purpose of the designation.

The character of this edge of the Landscape Buffer designation has already been altered by the long term use of much of the land as residential curtilages. The designation of this land is therefore out of date due to changing circumstances.

As can be seen from the aerial photographs in the Supplemental Statement, the boundary adjustment would not intrude into the countryside as the village boundary on the north side of Plumstead Road would still lie approximately 12 metres east of the proposed new boundary to the last residential property, and a further approximately 65 metres to the village hall boundary.

Furthermore, the landscape setting and character of Thorpe End has been more recently altered due to the recent construction of the NDR.

For this reason, the Growth Triangle Area Action Plan Policy GT2 Landscape Buffer designation of this strip of land is out of date and should be removed and included in the Settlement Boundary for Thorpe End.