Support

Representation ID: 22135

Received: 16/03/2020

Respondent: M Scott Properties Ltd

Agent: Strutt & Parker LLP

Policy 7.2 – The Main Towns outlines that the settlements in the Plan Area of Aylsham, Diss (with part of Roydon), Harleston, Long Stratton and Wymondham will provide for substantial development of around 6,300 homes. We support this approach, although given the dispersed nature of the settlements consider that a more ambitious level of growth should be deliverable and would provide greater support to enable these rural communities to prosper and thrive. Such an approach would provide the plan with a greater degree of flexibility in the event the larger allocations in the Norwich fringe deliver more slowly than anticipated.

The Main Towns are considered to be sustainable locations that are suitable to accommodate additional growth to contribute to the overall Plan area’s housing need. This approach is supported by paragraph 72 of the NPPF which identifies that the supply of a large number of new homes can often best be achieved through planning for larger scale development, including extensions to existing villages and towns, where they are well located and supported by the necessary infrastructure and facilities. The draft plan identifies sites for approximately 14% of new housing in the main towns. It acknowledges that much of the proposed development has planning permission and there are significant commitments in the main towns, especially in Long Stratton and Wymondham. More capacity for new allocations is available in Aylsham, Diss (with part of Roydon), Harleston and with Wymondham. The 14% proportion of new housing could be increased as a large number of reasonable alternative sites have been proposed in the main towns.

Our clients would strongly encourage the Greater Norwich Local Plan to increase the number of new allocations in these towns. The NPPF challenges local authorities to support the Government’s objective of significantly boosting the supply of new homes and ensure there is a sufficient amount and variety of land which can come forward where it is needed. This also applies to the needs of groups with specific housing requirements such as the elderly. We would therefore encourage the GNLP to review the reasonable alternative sites which have been proposed and bring forward a greater number of new allocations. Our client’s site, Land between Shelfanger and Mount Street, Diss, is one such reasonable alternative which could deliver, albeit a modest number, 24 retirement units in a central location along with other significant community benefits.