Comment
Draft Greater Norwich Local Plan – Part 1 The Strategy
Representation ID: 23199
Received: 16/03/2020
Respondent: Orbit Homes
Agent: Armstrong Rigg Planning
As set out in Orbit Homes’ representations to Policy 1, the proposed spatial strategy for allocating additional growth in the GNLP focusses a significantly higher proportion of total growth to the proposed village clusters and a lower proportion of growth to the Norwich urban area compared to existing commitments, while the strategy for the Main Towns and Key Services Centres remains broadly similar. In particular, the Main Towns continue to be allocated a comparatively low level of growth. These settlements form the second tier in the settlement hierarchy and are the most sustainable options for growth outside Norwich and yet are allocated just 14.5% of total growth during the plan period. This strategy fails to take full advantage of the potential of these settlements to sustainably grow and meet the housing needs of their catchment areas.
In addition to the current spatial strategy not recognising the potential of the main towns to sustainably accommodate higher levels of growth, Orbit Homes’ representations to Policy 1 also identifies a need to allocate an additional 4,000 to 6,300 dwellings above those currently proposed to be allocated in the GNLP. In order to meet this requirement, it would clearly be unsustainable to allocate additional high levels of growth to smaller rural settlements and Orbit Homes’ are concerned that due to significant existing commitments, any significant additional growth in the urban area may suffer from deliverability issues. We therefore consider that a higher proportion of the increased housing requirement should be directed to deliverable sites in the Main Towns.
On behalf of our client Orbit Homes (2020) Limited we wish to make representations to the Greater Norwich Local Plan (GNLP) Regulation 18 Draft Plan Consultation.
These representations comprise Orbit Homes’ comments on the policies contained in the Draft Strategy document and on the Draft Sites document for Long Stratton.
Please see attached document comprising a cover letter, response from and separate enclosures providing comments on the following policies / sites:
• Enclosure 1. Response Form
• Enclosure 2. Policy 1 – Growth Strategy
• Enclosure 3. Policy 2 – Sustainable Communities
• Enclosure 4. Policy 5 – Homes
• Enclosure 5. Policy 7.2 – The Main Towns
• Enclosure 6. GNLP0509 – Land south of St Mary’s Road, Long Stratton
• Enclosure 7. Policy 7.4 – Village Clusters, including:
• Land to the north of Ransome Avenue, Scole; and
• Land north of Church Road, Tasburgh
We trust that these comments will be given due consideration and look forward to participating further as the Greater Norwich Local Plan progresses. If you require any further information in respect of our client’s site then please do not hesitate to contact me or my director Geoff Armstrong whose details provided in the attached letter.