Comment

Representation ID: 22295

Received: 16/03/2020

Respondent: Barton Willmore

Q43 - 44) Consultation Questions for Policy 7.3 – The Key Service Centres

2.88 We support the identification of the Key Services Centres as locations which have an important role to play within the overall settlement hierarchy, providing facilities and services to serve the settlement and its hinterland.

2.89 Of these, the Draft Strategy only seeks to allocation additional land in Acle, Blofield, Hingham and Loddon/Chedgrave for housing, totalling 515 dwellings. 2.90 With the exception of Hethersett, which has a significant existing deliverable commitment, none of the Key Service Centres are located within the Cambridge Norwich Growth Corridor. However, Poringland, Hethersett, Brundall and Blofield are located within the Norwich Policy Area and, additional to these, Acle is located within the SHMA Core Area.

2.91 Whilst we do not object to the approach to allocating a limited level of development to the Key Service Centre, in line with our comments in respect of the Main Towns, the strategy needs to be justified, including ensuring it aligns with the Plan’s Vision and Aims. As currently drafted, it is unclear why settlements outside of the NPA/Core Area (the area with the strongest functional connection to Norwich) have been chosen in place of those within it. Q45 - 46) Consultation Questions for Policy 7.4 – The Village Clusters

2.92 We object to the approach advocated for the village clusters. Whilst it is acknowledged that these can make a vital contribution towards meeting housing and other growth requirements across the Plan Period, to arbitrarily allocate 1,200 additional homes is not justified or supported by clear evidence. We would argue it conflicts with the principles of sustainable development, and that growth should be focused on larger settlements, particularly those in more sustainable locations, such as the A11 corridor, served by rail and within the Cambridge – Norwich Tech Corridor.

2.93 Paragraph 25 of the Draft Strategy acknowledges that whilst the GNLP promotes housing choice and supports economic activity within the rural parishes, South Norfolk has decided to progress a separate development plan document to meet the overall housing numbers for its village clusters set out in the plan.

2.94 The decision to delay allocation of these sites until a further Development Plan document has been drafted, consulted on, and Examined separately risks serious impeding delivery of a substantial element of housing growth to be delivered by the Plan. Further, the current approach would support up to 80 separate small allocations if it is based on sites of no more than a hectare in size.

2.95 To ensure the Plan is positively prepared, effective and consistent with national policy, the GNLP should be seeking to allocate all housing to achieve its total growth needs in the GNLP, and distributed in a clearly evidenced manner that reflects the principles of sustainable development.