R35

Dacre Property Holdings wishes to withdraw their support for the continued residential allocation of this site.

The site has been allocated in Norwich City Council’s Adopted Local Plan for housing since 2014, and to date has not been brought forward. Dacre Property Holdings, who own the majority of the site, have extensively marketed their part of the site for residential redevelopment, with limited interest expressed by housebuilders/developers. No formal offers were received, but during discussions with one potential interested party, the value indicated was significantly lower than the site’s current value as a commercial/industrial site. This is largely due to the site’s sub-prime location within Norwich’s housing market, as well as practical issues such as the potential for land contamination from previous uses and the proximity of the site to the river with associated issues of flood risk and drainage.

Consequently, it would not be viable to develop the site for housing at the present time, and it is difficult to see how this will change significantly in the coming years. As the site is not considered viable, and is therefore not available for residential development, it does not meet the definitions of ‘deliverable’ or ‘developable’ contained in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) glossary. Therefore, the housing allocation should not be taken forward in the Greater Norwich Local Plan, as it is not sound.

We welcome the reference made to the achievement of a water efficient design.Please also see comments relating to Policy 2 of the Sustainable Communities of the Strategy document.