Hingham Town Council support the policy of environmental protection and enhancement. A community should have total confidence that if forced to accept more development , that the development would be an asset to and enhance the environment.

Preferred option site for housing development GNLP0520 is contrary to this policy. It has been commented upon that the recent Hops development adjacent to GNLP0520 (built by the same developer ) has “ruined” the approach to Hingham and is an “eyesore”. Communities should not be subject to development that instils such vehement dislike and opposition.
Policy 3 states “ The development strategy of the plan and the sites proposed for development reflect the area's settlement structure of the city, towns and villages, retaining the separate identities of individual settlements.
Development proposals will be required to conserve and enhance the built and historic environment through:
being designed to create a distinct sense of place and enhance local character taking account of local design guidance and providing measures such as heritage interpretation to further the understanding of local heritage issues;”
With the allocation of GNLP0520 as a preferred site to be built by the same developer as the Hops, residents fear being left with a large area of development (covering both the Hops and GNLP0520) that will not be in keeping with the historic environment of the very nearby areas of Hingham. Having one development of a distinctive style already been built, it does not mean that it is right for the settlement to be further developed by adding more of the same. In particular if its style and design is likely to be opposed and resented by residents of the town.

With regard to the Natural Environment –“ Development proposals will be required to conserve and enhance the natural environment. Key elements of the natural environment include valued landscapes”. Again with specific reference to GNLP0520. Development of GNLP0520 would be contrary to Policy 3 “The Natural Environment …. Development proposals will be required to conserve and enhance the natural environment. Key elements of the natural environment include valued landscapes” … it is clear from residents objections that the loss of such prominent and valued open landscape by developing GNLP0520 would definitely not “conserve or enhance the natural environment”, but permanently destroy it, on the approach to Hingham via the Norwich Road.
Sites should not be allocated for development when they are so clearly contrary to the policies that should be applied.

Whilst the Council believes that there should be no development until the present allocations have been built on it does believe that planners should give careful consideration to allowing more self build across the district and that they should be willing to allow some experimental green initiative building that takes account the need to address climate change/the climate emergency.
In the context of the climate emergency, where several species of wildlife native to Britain are becoming extinct or at risk of extinction the Council are concerned to ensure that housing developments are not built on areas where rare species of wildlife may exist, or indeed, where extension of the urban area will contribute to the depletion of wildlife. Should housing development take place wildlife habitat should be preserved, protected, enhanced and improved.