Object

Representation ID: 21965

Received: 13/03/2020

Respondent: Welbeck Strategic Land III LLP

Agent: Bidwells

Object, with comments
We object to the proposed approach to accommodating housing growth in Wymondham.
As detailed in comments made in relation to Question 41, Wymondham, as the second largest settlement in the Greater Norwich
area, is located in a highly sustainable location. This is recognised by the identification of Wymondham in the draft Local Plan as
a ‘contingency’ location that can accommodate 1,000 additional dwellings, if delivery of housing elsewhere in the GNLP area
does not meet local plan targets.
The principle of identifying contingency locations to accommodate additional growth should locations elsewhere in the GNLP
area fail to deliver, is supported. Particularly as it is, as detailed in comments made in relation to Question 13, considered
questionable if the scale of growth forecast in both the Norwich Urban area and fringe parishes, as well as the South Norfolk
Village Clusters, can be considered deliverable in accordance with the NPPF i.e. clear evidence has not been provided to
demonstrate that housing completions will begin on site within 5 years.
Therefore, it is, in our view, highly likely that a contingency site will be required in Wymondham in in order to ensure that local
plan targets in relation to housing delivery are met.
In order to ensure that the policies of the Local Plan are unambiguous in terms of how forecast growth will be met, it is
recommended that rather than identify a contingency site, land in Wymondham should be allocated for housing development.
This will provide certainty for a range of stakeholders, not least the public, and ensure that development, including infrastructure,
can be delivered in a planned and coordinated manner.
However, in the event that the decision to identify contingency sites remains, it is, as per the approach adopted in relation to
Costessey, recommended that a specific site is identified in Wymondham. As well as ensuring a consistent approach between
the policies of the Local Plan it provides certainty, ensuring there is not ambiguity in terms of where growth could be located.
More specifically, the chapter of the draft Site Allocations document relating to Wymondham identifies five Reasonable
Alternatives (assuming the proposed garden villages are excluded). These sites occupy a variety of locations around Wymondham and range in size from 150 to 1,500 units, providing a significant amount of ambiguity as to where future growth will be accommodated.