Comment

Representation ID: 22732

Received: 16/03/2020

Respondent: Pegasus Group

According to the GNLP, the ‘Key Service Centres’ have a relatively good range of services, access to public transport and employment opportunities and play a vital role in serving the rural areas. It also identifies that these roles are intended to continue to be supported by appropriate levels of development. The Draft GNLP Strategy states that the Key Service Centres of Acle, Blofield, Brundall, Hethersett, Hingham, Loddon / Chedgrave, Poringland / Framingham Earl, Reepham and Wroxham, will deliver 3,417 homes over the plan period (approximately 8% of the proposed housing growth). Our client agrees with the broad approach to increasing the levels of development within the Key Service Centres which will assist in safeguarding existing services, public transport links and infrastructure. In addition to this, delivering growth in villages will diversify the local community and allow others to benefit from village life should they wish to do so, which is consistent with paragraph 78 of the NPPF.
The GNLP Draft Strategy outlines that the Councils would consider an increase in the number of allocated sites in ‘Key Service Centres’ and it is noted that there are many reasonable alternative sites in these locations. In particular, our client suggests that the Councils should consider additional small and medium sized sites, across these sustainable locations, which are well related to the form and character of the settlement and are capable of accommodating housing growth within the plan period.
The GNLP Draft Strategy identifies that Loddon / Chedgrave has a good range of services, good public transport links and is well located between Norwich and Lowestoft to benefit from employment growth, including in the offshore energy sector. As a result, designated Key Service Centres, such as Loddon, should be a focus for sustainable levels of housing growth.