Comment

Representation ID: 22691

Received: 16/03/2020

Respondent: Strutt & Parker LLP

[On behalf of Scott Properties Ltd]
6. The vision for the Local Plan is to achieve a ‘vibrant, healthy, inclusive and growing communities supported by the delivery of new homes, infrastructure and an enhanced environment.’ It is clear from Section 3 – The Vision and Objectives for Greater Norwich that a key theme throughout is playing a part in the national commitments to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
7. Scott Properties is passionate about the need to address Climate Change. It is agreed that this is one of the most important factors to our future and as such should be a key consideration in the preparation of the new Local Plan.
8. Chapter 14 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) focusses on ‘Meeting the challenge of climate change, flooding and coastal change’.
“The planning system should support the transition to a low carbon future in a changing climate, taking full account of flood risk and coastal change. It should help to: shape places in ways that contribute to radical reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, minimise vulnerability and improve resilience; encourage the reuse of existing resources, including the conversion of existing buildings; and support renewable and low carbon energy and associated infrastructure.”
(Paragraph 148 – NPPF, 2019)
9. The Plan needs to be visionary looking forward beyond 2038, in particular having regard to the Government’s commitment to reach Net Zero Carbon by 2050. The Plan also needs to understand what the implications of Net Zero Carbon will be, and develop an appropriate strategy to ensure that this will be achievable within the Plan area.
10. We believe that our client’s site can help address the visions and objectives for the Greater Norwich area, and we strongly support its inclusion in the draft Local Plan as a Site Allocation. The scheme currently proposed at Land at Briar Farm, Harleston could include approximately 20% single-storey dwellings suitable for older members of the community as well as those with or supporting someone with a disability, with associated site infrastructure and public open space forming part of a larger settlement extension of circa 330 dwellings, together with care, retail and recreational opportunities to serve the town.
11. It could deliver a proposed approximate mix of 5% 1 bed properties, 40% 2 bed properties, 40% 3 bed properties and 15% 4 bed properties, subject to further pre-application advice from Officers at South Norfolk District Council. The inclusion of circa 20% bungalows means as people age there is more choice and opportunity to plan for old age and move into more suitable accommodation when they no longer need a family home, while remaining in the local area and close to friends, family, and local support networks. New family housing also comes to the market as a result, reducing the pressure to provide additional family housing sites in the local area. This in turn enables new families to move to the area helping to redress the demographic imbalance and increase support for the continuance of demand for existing services and facilities.
12. The further inclusion of a site for a 90 bed C3 care block and additional specialist accommodation for older people (circa 30 units) as part of the care allocation will ensure that there is accommodation to meet the needs of an ageing population at a local level. Paragraph 34 of the spatial profile identifies that the population of Greater Norwich has a relatively high proportion of older people compared to national figures and that the pattern is set to increase to 2038. This further growth of the older population will add to the already significant pressure on home care services and will also feed through to increased demand for residential care facilities.
13. The proposed development could also make a significant contribution towards affordable housing provision.
14. In addition, public open space will be provided for the enjoyment of both new and existing residents, and it will be possible to deliver an area of allotment space for both the enjoyment of existing and new residents in the area.