Housing allocation for main towns( page 106) I understand that ‘existing deliverable commitment’ ( but not yet built) are included in the figures. It is the total figure to which I address my comments initially.
Harleston has been allocated a disproportionately large number of houses c.f. Aylsham and Diss Aylsham 25% more people than Harleston 20% fewer houses Diss 80+% more people than Harleston 16% more houses Long Stratton andWymondham not comparable because of their proximity to Norwich.
If one allows 10% growth in population per decade, the increase in population will be Aylsham 1250 Harleston 950 Diss 1750. GNLP proposals do not reflect this. The new allocations are Diss 50 houses less than Harleston and Aylsham 150 less. INFRASTRUCTURE. Harleston’s primary and secondary schools have few if any vacancies available ( Diss certainly has spaces available at secondary level ). The small(3 partner) doctor’s surgery is under pressure. As a member of the PPG, I often hear this. Surface drainage and sewerage are under pressure according to Anglian Water who have talked of considerable investment needed even for the development of land already allocated. Harleston lacks a community hall ( preferably community owned ) for functions and large meetings. PUBLIC TRANSPORT. Diss is a public transport hub of some size. 13 bus routes + a main line railway station ( 35+ services per day to Norwich, Ipswich, Colchester and London. Harleston has 3 bus routes ( one has just one bus per day). Commuting for ‘normal’ working hours is only available to Diss, Long Stratton and Norwich. There are no evening or Sunday services. OTHER COMMENTS. Proposed new sites are only walkable into town centre by fit people 15 minutes ( we have a high proportion of elderly people ). Harleston has low unemployment BUT the vacancies are predominately in low pay and low status jobs. I I hope the above may be of some use. I am not against development as a bred and born Harlestonian I have seen Harleston grow from just under 2000 to present size but I fail to see how we have been treated fairly cf Diss and Aylsham.