Object

Representation ID: 23086

Received: 16/03/2020

Respondent: Orbit Homes

Agent: David Lock Associates

We object to the lack of consideration of Wymondham as a strategic growth location. As has been extensively covered elsewhere in these representations, for a variety of reasons Wymondham is an excellent location for accommodating strategic scale growth. In summary:
• It is the largest settlement in the GNLP area outside the Norwich Urban Area;
• It has a prominent location at the heart of the Tech Corridor;
• It benefits from immediate access to the recently improved A11; and
• It is positioned on the Norwich Cambridge Railway line and has a key stopping station subject
to programmed station improvements and programmed (faster and more frequent) service improvements.

These factors suggest that Wymondham is a suitable location for new growth, yet it is subject to only two 50-unit allocations in the GNLP. Whilst Wymondham has some existing commitments this has no bearing as to whether it should continue to be identified as a key location for growth. The existing level of growth within Wymondham is not of such significant scale to suggest further development would inhibit delivery.

As is explained in the SGV Prospectus and in paras 4.16 to 4.21 above, Wymondham has been subject to sustained piecemeal delivery though planned and speculative development to the detriment of delivering necessary town-wide services and amenities.

Given its locational advantages and its position in the settlement hierarchy, the case for continued growth at Wymondham is incontestable. It is therefore imperative that the long-term future of the town is planned for comprehensively and safeguarded from further piecemeal growth which delivers no tangible infrastructure or service benefits for the town.

Furthermore, adopting a whole-town growth strategy for Wymondham – which includes strategic growth at SGV – would allow a more robust policy position to be adopted in respect of other key infrastructure objectives. For example, a whole-town strategy could introduce spatial policies to build on Plan objectives of enhancing existing strategic green infrastructure within/around the town and protecting it from inappropriate development, and/or strengthen policies to define and protect settlement/strategic gaps including between Wymondham and Hethersett.

We would welcome the opportunity to engage with the GNDP and local stakeholders to explore this policy position further as part of plan-making activity between now and the Reg 19 stage LP. In order to inform these discussions, set out below is suggested alternative policy framework which could support strategic-scale growth at SGV.

Alternative Policy – ‘Silfield Garden Village’
Silfield is one of three potential new settlement sites identified in the draft Plan for future consideration. No criteria-based assessment framework is suggested for this consideration, nor any policy protection given to these locations as having any preferred policy status (for example, through an ‘Area of Search’ policy or similar), and considerable uncertainty arises from the naming of growth future growth locations in such isolation.

At the same time, site allocations have been made in the GNLP – or proposed in subsequent documents – in unsustainable and undeliverable locations

We consider that rather than being considered in the next review of the plan, for the reasons set out above the GNLP should pursue a spatial strategy which allocates – and specifically identifies land for – a new settlement at Silfield within the current plan to 2038.

We contend that a policy for an allocation of a new settlement at Silfield Garden Village would comprise:
(a) Identification of the preferred location for a New Settlement south of Wymondham on the Key Diagram;
(b) Allocation of the Silfield Garden Village site (red line) for up to 6,500 homes [plus associated uses] in the Site Allocations document;
(c) Inclusion of a criteria-based New Settlement policy for Silfield GV identifying the key features and policy requirements of the new settlement – this could include the associated provision of a solar Farm and strategic green infrastructure as indicated by the green boundary on the site plan in appendix 2;
(d) Identification of the capacity of the new settlement within Policy 1 and Policy 7.1, reflecting its full capacity of 6,500 new homes plus associated uses, and also identifying the contribution that this allocation will make during the plan period to 2038 (circa 3,700 homes)

Aligned with a new settlement policy would be a redistribution of housing numbers to achieve a more sustainable and deliverable spatial strategy which more closely reflects the wider economic and growth objectives of the Plan. On this basis, we suggest that Policy 1 would be amended to reflect a redistribution of current draft allocations