Object

Representation ID: 21815

Received: 12/03/2020

Respondent: Barford Parish Council

•This consultation exercise seems to be repeating much of what was done not more than a year or two ago. Yet sites considered for development around Barford and Wramplingham are being considered again. This makes a mockery of previous consultations.
•Fourteen potential sites were previously consulted on in early 2018. The Regulation 18 Site Proposals document concluded: "the sites proposed offer the potential for significant growth, with the necessary inclusion of supporting services and infrastructure provided alongside housing within GNLP0006, GNLP0032, GNLP0320, most of GNLP0515,GNLP0525. However, without provision of infrastructure such as relief roads and high school provision, Wymondham is likely to be able to accommodate fewer dwellings potentially on the smaller sites such as GNLP0092/ part of GNLP0525, GNLP0032 andGNLP0355."
•The complexity of the whole process, the information than needs to be assimilated, and the expertise required to make a useful response means that many members of the public are likely to be put off trying to comment. In this respect, the Consultation Documentation and response procedures are of low quality.
•Of direct concern to Barford and Wramplingham Parish Council is the policy by South Norfolk District Council to draw up its own Village Clusters Housing Site Allocations document. There are four very significant sites around Barford and Wramplingham asfollows:
oGNLP0416: land off Barnham Broom Road
oGNLP1013: Church Lane
oGNLP0552: Land off Watton Road
oGNLP0014: Turnpike Field
•Furthermore, recent correspondence with District Councillor Richard Elliot indicates that consultation concerning these is not going to happen until September/October 2020.
•This means that the allocation of these clusters is
oNOT being considered within the scope of the whole GNLP Regulation 18 Draft Plan
oNOT being considered within the consultation exercise•In addition, the new Northern Bypass (NDR) and the foreseen extension to link it to the A47 in the West of Norwich, was, as we understand it, intended to facilitate development of housing close to Norwich in the north. This should therefore reduce the need for fragmentary and environmentally damaging rural development elsewhere. However, the GNLP seems to be ignoring this, and continuing to promote building on green-belt land in Broadland and South Norfolk where the Village Cluster sites are NOT OPEN FOR CONSIDERATION.
• Our further concerns about the South Norfolk lack of transparency in this exercise are heightened by our understanding that:
o the Village Cluster approach will permit housing developments of significant size to be built outside the local Development Boundaries.
o there is apparently no maximum allocation, just a minimum allocation above and beyond the existing commitment.
• Barford and Wramplingham Parish Council consider that the lack of inclusion of all the Village Cluster proposed sites in the South Norfolk ward:
o Excludes the Parish Council from making a meaningful contribution relating to the land in and around the villages at this important time.
o Is not consistent with a true and fair consultation approach.
o Demonstrates that the consultation exercise is incomplete.
• Barford and Wramplingham Parish Council also wish to endorse the comprehensive response by CPRE to this consultation exercise.