Comment

Representation ID: 22793

Received: 16/03/2020

Respondent: 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 although given the dispersed nature of the settlements consider that a more ambitious level of growth would 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 sustainable locations that are suitable to accommodate additional growth to contribute to the overall Plan area’s housing need. In particular, we support the approach to allocate development of the combined sites to the north of Diss which form the subject of Policy GNLP0250/0342/0119/0291 which are included as preferred options and provide a suitable amount of growth in relation to the settlement hierarchy, infrastructure and local constraints. 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.