GNLP0341

Known as the Parish Fields (currently privately owned) this area of land should be designated and set aside as Local Green Space - it is unique to Diss.

In 1964, John Betjeman (later Poet Laureate) visited Diss to make a film called 'Something about Diss', and he remarked on Parish Fields, "On the other side of Mount Street do you see that bit of country? … A bit of
country coming right into the town - a little park".

This oasis of beautiful green land should be preserved for the inhabitants of Diss in perpetuity; it should never be built on and the label, 'Reasonable Alternative' should be removed. Once such a "bit of country" such as this has gone, it has gone forever. Used for grazing cattle there is a plethora of wild-life living on this land.

In 1997, this parcel of land was recorded in the Norfolk Gardens Survey Report, commissioned by English Heritage, and given a Grade** (regional importance) listing.

In 1998, it was designated as Norfolk Historic Environment Record site 33463, ' The only example of a detached landscape park within a town in Norfolk'.

Parish Fields is an area of old parkland meadow in the heart of Diss, within the Conservation Area. It forms part of the town's distinctive character and is an asset for wildlife: "a little bit of the country coming right into town". (John Betjeman). More than a 1000 signatories have already objected to its development. Even partial development would irretrievably destroy the site. It should be saved as a precious local asset and opened up for public use with controlled access. There are plenty of brownfield sites for housing development: we do not need more exclusive housing in Diss.

This is a very important green space in the centre of town. Meadow, mature trees, birds and wildlife abound. These areas help reduce flood risk and absorb heat and carbon dioxide. There are other alternative spaces in Diss which are more suitable than this and wouldn't result in the destruction of ancient parkland.

Thank for giving us the opportunity to consult on your proposals for the sites in the Diss area.

The Town Council has been working with the Diss and District Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group comprising the parishes of Brome and Oakley, Burston and Shimpling, Diss, Palgrave, Roydon, Scole and Stuston on the emerging plan, which we expect to consult on later this year. In addition we have worked with consultants AECOM who have advised and helped us develop our evidence base on Housing Needs, Design and Design Codes and also Site Assessment. It was interesting to note that AECOM considered that all the Diss and Neighbourhood Plan area to be rural in nature, a fact they felt should be fully considered in the site densities we allow.

Whilst we agree with most of your recommendations for the sites in the Diss area, there are a few we would like to consult further on. All the GNLP sites were discussed in Council on 19th February 2020 and our recommendations were approved unanimously.

Please see attachment

This area referred to anonymously as 'Land between Shelfanger Road and Mount Street' has a name - Parish Fields and it has a special place in the hearts of many who live here. Objections to development now number well over 2,500 in a petition run by the Friends of Parish Fields and a huge number of people recognise Parish Fields as a precious and historic meadowland in the heart of Diss. It would be wonderful to believe that planners will take note of this strength of feeling when it comes to preserving part of Diss' dwindling green heritage.

An example of nationally scarce Biodiversity Action Plan priority habitat 'Wood-pasture and Parkland', GNLP0341 incorporates large oak trees (some evidently over 200 years old) plus other trees and bushes, and seasonal surface water ponds. It supports wildlife including insects, bats, birds including tawny owls and mammals. AECOM (Neighbourhood Plan consultants) rated it unsuitable for development and public consultation rejected a development plan in 2019. 2600+ people have signed petitions against any development and we're working for Local Green Space designation in the NP. Norfolk Historic Environment register listed (NHER 33463), it's Norfolk Gardens Trust 2* rated. It must be preserved.

Objections
Feedback comments on proposals for land at Parish Fields
Scott Properties
Item 2b
1) A company 'MISSION STATEMENT' was not available at the presentation.
2) Given the adverse impact of traffic movement on the existing community, a detailed design of the proposed traffic road junctions should be prepared and approved before any planning application is submitted for the housing scheme.
3) The following points may not be the responsibility of Scott Properties to address alone but are in my opinion of major significance.
Pedestrian access to the town between Shelfanger Court and St Nicholas Street is rather hazardous and not suitable for wheelchair users.
The junction with Roydon Road is also very difficult for wheelchair/mobility scooter users.
I am not qualified to give a risk assessment report on these matters but as a retired consultant in associated functions I would think that it would not be good.
I have witnessed several problems with wheelchair/mobility scooter users having to negotiate a route to the crossing point during the past couple of years.
4) Information on the standard of build could not be given at the public exhibition i.e.
a) Compliance with the insulation standard that would be necessary in order to comply with a requirement to meet the target of zero carbon emissions by 2050! This should not be considered as a retrofit to be carried out sometime in the future by an owner of a property. We should be looking at flagship schemes now for all new developments.
b) The type of energy use - gas - electricity?
Will the properties be fitted with solar panels?

*Additional to the above, there are attached answers to questions posed by Scott Properties which are relevant so they have been included below*
5) Our ecology reports confirm that there is an opportunity to encourage wildlife through improvements to the existing habitats and the creation of new habitats on the site. Do you have any suggestions as to how this could be achieved?
1/ Exclude any building work.
2/ Add more native hedge areas.
3/ Designate a wildflower/grass wildlife area.
4/ Carry out tree planting of native species.

Thank you for your feedback.
Please use the space below to provide any additional comments or feedback you may have.
*---*
This statement below (referring to how the feedback will be used) does not include any reference to carrying out an 'Environmental Impact Assessment' with the publication or the resultant report.

2600 people have petitioned in support of preserving Parish Fields.
Diss Town Council have voted against development.
It is listed with Norfolk Historic Environment register as 'the only example of a detached landscape park
in Norfolk'.
It is designated in the SN local plan as an 'Important Local Space'.
D&DN steering group have recently accepted the site as a candidate for designation as a 'Local Green Space'.
It is home to a variety of wildlife - owls, muntjac deer, sparrow hawks and a number of different species of bats, some of which are quite rare.

I wish to object to the reassessment of the Parish Fields site in the GNLP from its previous (2018) designation as “unsuitable” for development to the current position where the site is described a “reasonable alternative” should there be difficulties in achieving the unreasonably large total deliverable housing commitment of 743 homes allocated to Diss in the GNLP.

No housing development on this historic green space in the heart of Diss is acceptable for the following reasons:
• Diss Town Council has recently voted not to support the development of this site and the resultant loss of any of this historic important open space;
• Diss and District Neighbourhood Plan steering group has indicated its willingness to accept evidence supporting the designation of the Parish Fields site as a “Local Green Space”, which would give it a strong measure of protection from development as part of the Neighbourhood Plan process;
• The Parish Field site is listed in the South Norfolk Local Plan as an “Important Open Local Space” in Diss, along with the Mere, Diss Park, the old gardens in Mount Street, Rectory Meadow, etc.; these open spaces are integral to the town’s character and attractiveness;
• The site is listed in the Norfolk Historic Environment Record (NHER33463) as “the only example of a detached landscape park within a town in Norfolk”;
• The site is a significant wildlife reservoir and network linked to local gardens: a bat survey undertaken in July 2019 identified that no fewer than eight species used the site for feeding; it is an excellent example of the UK biodiversity priority habitat “Wood-pasture and parkland”;
• The site was noted by Sir John Betjeman – later Poet Laureate – in his film about Diss in 1964 as integral to the character of the market town and its rural links: he described the site as “a little bit of country coming right into town”.

I would like to object to the potential use of Parish Fields, in the heart of Diss, for any housing and service development.

Why, because
**Listed in the South Norfolk Local Plan as ‘Important Open Local Space’ in the town, along with the Mere, Diss Park, old gardens in Mount Street, Rectory Meadow, etc. These open spaces are integral to the town's character and attractiveness.
** Listed in the Norfolk Historic Environment Record as NHER33463 as ‘The only example of a detached landscape park within a town in Norfolk’.
** Submitted as a candidate site for listing by Historic England as a rare example of a detached landscape park in a market town setting;
** A candidate ‘Local Green Space’ site in the Diss & District Neighbourhood Plan (in preparation).
** A significant wildlife reservoir and network linked to local gardens; a bat survey undertaken in July 2019 showed that no less than eight species used the site for feeding.
** PF is a Green Infrastructure asset which is part of the 'green corridor' linking Diss with its rural hinterland.
** An example of the UK biodiversity priority habitat 'Wood-Pasture and Parkland'.
** Noted by Poet Laureate John Betjeman in his film about Diss (1964) as integral to the character of the market town and its rural links, being ‘a little bit of country coming right into town’, as he put it.

Extra traffic in this area is unwanted and it will spoil the look and feel of the surrounding architecture. Any new development could be placed between Diss/Roydon or by the railway station

I would like to object to the potential use of Parish Fields, in the heart of Diss, for any housing and service development.

Why, because
**Listed in the South Norfolk Local Plan as ‘Important Open Local Space’ in the town, along with the Mere, Diss Park, old gardens in Mount Street, Rectory Meadow, etc. These open spaces are integral to the town's character and attractiveness.
** Listed in the Norfolk Historic Environment Record as NHER33463 as ‘The only example of a detached landscape park within a town in Norfolk’.
** Submitted as a candidate site for listing by Historic England as a rare example of a detached landscape park in a market town setting;
** A candidate ‘Local Green Space’ site in the Diss & District Neighbourhood Plan (in preparation).
** A significant wildlife reservoir and network linked to local gardens; a bat survey undertaken in July 2019 showed that no less than eight species used the site for feeding.
** PF is a Green Infrastructure asset which is part of the 'green corridor' linking Diss with its rural hinterland.
** An example of the UK biodiversity priority habitat 'Wood-Pasture and Parkland'.
** Noted by Poet Laureate John Betjeman in his film about Diss (1964) as integral to the character of the market town and its rural links, being ‘a little bit of country coming right into town’, as he put it.

Extra traffic in this area is unwanted and it will spoil the look and feel of the surrounding architecture. Any new development could be placed between Diss/Roydon or by the railway station

The area known as Parish Fields should be maintained as a local green space within the town. It provides for local wildlife, and needs to be preserved for ecological purposes.
As a Civil Engineer, I feel that the developer’s proposed plans do not present significant sustainable reasons to develop the site.
Based on the reasons above, I object to the proposed development, and do not understand the change of status from unreasonable to reasonable alternative to other sites.

Parish Fields a rare and the only detached landscape park within a town in our county of Norfolk. It's also listed as an 'Important Open Local Space' by South Norfolk, and listed in the Norfolk Historic Environmental Record.
It really is an integral area to the character of our market town, areas of space is so very important to towns.
My further concern and worry is the total housing allocation for Diss is far too excessive, 'yes' we must provide
our share of housing, but the figures put forward would put the town's infrastructure to breaking point.

** Listed in the South Norfolk Local Plan as ‘Important Local Open Space’ in the town, along with other open spaces (e.g. Fair Green, Diss Park, gardens in Mount Street) which are integral to the town's character. (Could these also be sacrificed as ‘reasonable alternative’ sites for built development? They also have ‘good access to services and facilities’.)
** Listed in the Norfolk Historic Environment Record as NHER.33463 as ‘The only example of a detached landscape park within a town in Norfolk’. This status is underpinned by a Norfolk Gardens Trust survey report, 1997 (funded by English Heritage) and endorsed by the landscape historian Professor Tom Williamson.
** Submitted as a candidate site for listing by Historic England as a rare example of a detached landscape park in a market town setting.
** A candidate ‘Local Green Space’ site being considered in the Diss & District Neighbourhood Plan process.
** A significant wildlife reservoir and network linked to local gardens; a bat survey undertaken in July 2019 showed that no less than eight species used the site for feeding.
** A Green Infrastructure asset which is part of the 'green corridor' linking Diss with its rural hinterland, and will be needed as such as & when new housing estates are built on the north side of town.
** An example of the UK biodiversity priority habitat 'Wood-Pasture and Parkland'.
** Noted by Poet Laureate John Betjeman in his film about Diss (1964) as integral to the character of the town and its rural links, being ‘a little bit of country coming right into town’.
** An object of intense concern by over 2600 people who signed the Parish Fields Friends petition to Diss Town Council and South Norfolk District Council (July 2019 to date).
** Subject of a vote by Diss Town Council that <The Town Council will not support the development of this site and the resultant loss of any of this historic important open space> (February 2020).

Please see attached

The GREATER NORWICH Regulation 18 Consultation 2020
PROPOSALS FOR DISS

Whatever the merits of the Greater Norwich Local Plan for Norwich there are few for Diss. The clue is in the name. It may stretch credulity to include Long Stratton in Greater Norwich, but the reasons for doing so cannot include Diss, and do not try. The local plan provisions for Diss are in no way recognisable as a creative and workable plan. They are a recipe for the decline of Diss’s role and regional centre as a historic market town. Consultation 18 divorces Diss from its essential support settlements and, despite the gnlp political introduction, there are no housing-matching specific plan proposals for new jobs, supporting infrastructure, schools, roads, health care, Proposals and consultation are limited to a bureaucratic scatter of housing sites without context, an exercise in allocating housing numbers simply to achieve a total, leading to added settlement girth within restricted boundaries, a kind of planning obesity, creeping encroachment on agricultural land and a lottery allocation of added wealth for selected peripheral land owners.

WHY DOES THE GNLP (particularly Regulation 18 proposals) FAIL TO LIVE UP TO THE TITLE OF A LOCAL PLAN?
It fails to link Diss to its surrounding support villages. It specifically severs proposals for those settlements from its proposals for Diss, which as a market town relies on its surrounding villages as they rely on Diss. No plan for Diss as a market town commercial and social centre can be relevant if it limits its consideration to its parish boundary and treats surrounding settlements in separate categories of ‘Service and ‘Other’. These settlements need planning as an essential element of a Greater Diss.

It fails to grant Diss the same growth zone considerations applied for Norwich. Diss may be far smaller than the County capital, but it has its own integral support and growth zone and no Local Plan should ignore that context. Diss parish of some 7,500 has a population hinterland of 50-70,000 dependant on the commercial or social attraction. A simple mid-distance hinterland virtually fills a ten mile circumference, a weighted gravitational assessment on population (2012) in competing centres reduces that hinterland to the north, west and south of Diss to five miles circumference. The audience support for Diss Corn Hall (2015) shows the ‘reach’ of Diss into the myriad of its surrounding Villages and Hundreds beyond the ten mile circumference. A local plan needs to take this hinterland into consideration and treat it as an integral element of Diss’ future.













Hinterland assessments
By travel, at settlement mid-points By population gravitational weighting By Corn Hall Audience 2015

It fails to acknowledge that Diss, the sole centre in the County other than Norwich, has a rail station providing a swift link direct to the heart of London’s financial centre. This already attracts significant commuter traffic. For 30 years this pattern of home/work commuting has greatly increased, will continue to be a potent urban generator, but has not been built into the parameters guiding the plan.

It claims to relate a confetti allocation of dwelling consents to primary school access, with a child’s pedestrian link to a primary schools set as the criterion for a new housing site. But it fails to assess the need and thus location for new Primary Schools. The plan accepts existing catchment areas and assumes the existing schools can accommodate all children from new housing. Or, indeed for any new social services. It is not a plan, it is a housing numbers game.
It mentions but fails to resolve the traffic difficulties of Park Road and Victoria Road Diss, ignoring the need and potential for a hinterland bypass link between the A143 and A1066. There are no proposals for infrastructure to support the allocated housing sites, nor analysis that road, water, drainage and communication capacity will be available.

It fails to provide any Action plan or proposals for Diss Town Centre. It has no proposals for the linkage of the Diss Park to the proposed Waveney riverine parkland. It fails to mention the town centre and the increasing number of empty commercial properties let alone attempting to adopt plan policies that will help the centre to survive.







Empty properties in the Diss Heritage Triangle and Market
Place. There are further significant vacancies down Mere Street


It still continues retail use amongst those approved for Sites DIS 6 & 7, (Committed Sites up to 2018) despite the rejection of retail warehousing use on appeal for Diss 7 and the accepted deleterious impacts retail development that it would have had have on existing traders and Diss’ historic town centre. The Development Management Committee in refusing consent may have hid behind the fact the site was on the periphery of a conservation area, but the inspector recognised the adverse economic impacts it would have had. This review of the plan should take the opportunity to change the approved uses for committed sites.
















It continues the cult of ‘borderism’ that has plagued all plans in the past, accepting that plan responsibility ceases at the County boundary and thus fails to acknowledge the Diss Town Council and Mid-Suffolk’s efforts to establish a Neighbourhood plan that includes those zones that form part of Diss’ hinterland south of the River Waveney. For planning purposes a ‘Greater Diss Growth Zone’ paralleling the Norwich approach should include the core parishes of the emerging Neighbourhood plan … Diss, Roydon, Burston & Shrimpling, Scole, Palgrave, Stutson and Brome and Oakley. This, at least, would provide some logical context for a comprehensive plan that includes housing as but one of its elements.








A POSSIBLE DIFFERENT APPROACH FOR THE DISS AND EYE SPATIAL REGION.



















These two diagrams compare the planning base for Greater Norwich as set out in the 2010 Key Diagram from the Joint Core Strategy with that for the south of the District and north Mid-Suffolk. That for Greater Norwich seeks to take into account a broad range of plan elements. That for the south of South Norfolk is a collection of parishes each treated separately and has no planning relevance whatsoever.















Rather than using this parish patchwork as a series of boxes within which to allocate peripheral housing additions to each settlement an extension of the JCS Strategy approach for the Norwich Growth Area would be to attempt a similar consideration of the needs of a planned axis between Diss and Eye. This would entail the establishment of a joint South Norfolk-Mid-Suffolk development and implementation unit, difficult but possible, and would provide for a matching basis of plan consideration across the county boundary. It would also permit a more imaginative and attractive solution to housing provision to include, perhaps, a new high-density yet garden village community.

COMMENTS ON REGULATION 18 ‘PROMOTED SITES’
Housing Sites:
GNLP0342 and 0250
Specific provision should made at the outset to restrict the housing site area so as to identify, allocate and gift adequate extra land for Diss cemetery and the link road, not leaving these needs contingent on planning conditions.
GNLP0102, 0185 and 1054
It is inappropriate to squeeze housing into the middle of an employment site and adjacent to a railway. The site should remain in employment use. Diss needs more land designated for employment use and a policy to generate new work opportunities.
GNLP0341 (Parish Fields)
A strictly limited number of dwellings might be permitted provided they were designed specially for the site and, as public benefit for the use of land designated as ‘Important Local Open Space to be retained’, the remainder of Parish Fields were deeded over to Diss Town Council and developed as a public park.
GNLP0599, 1044, 1003
None are currently designated for the next plan period, but should they be considered they need to be designed and built as part of a special Walcot Green village design with its own open surrounds, not treated as added Diss girth.

Site Commitments up to 2018
DIS 3
This critical, if small, site on the edge of the A1066 has high visual impact. It may look convenient on a map to complete zoned residential to a straight line, but this is desk-planning with little regard to the actual look and feel of the land. The site needs to revert back to open space so as to emphasise and not diminish the value of the landscape gap between Diss and Roydon and to avoid allotments butting up against housing. A planted woodland strip along the this edge of housing land would be beneficial to the look and character of the town.
DIS 6
Retail use should be deleted from the sui generis approved uses for this site and compulsory purchase made of the ‘ransom’ strip on the ‘Morrison’s internal roundabout so as to allow traffic to access DIS 6 (and the bus station) from the internal Morrison road approach. Provision should be made for a landscape walk connection from the bus station south to DIS 2, to include a walkway strip alongside the electricity sub-station.
DIS 2 & 7
Retail use should be deleted from the sui generis approved uses for DIS 7 and effort made to help relocate the feather factory and to create a landscape connection between the Diss Town Park and DIS 2.

SUMMARY
The GNLP may or may not deliver a sufficient supply of homes for the next plan period. But it fails to do more than generally acknowledge primary criteria under the JCS for future economic, social or environmental objectives and their impacts on Diss and its surrounds. It fails to identify how the proposed number and location of new homes will relate to the Diss of the future. There are no plan specifics to ensure the vitality of the town centre, nor any consideration of how such housing will promote a healthy and safe community. No proposals deal with the need and provision of sustainable transport or high quality communication. There is no recognition of the importance of the rail link, or proposals for better linkage between station and town. The housing provision, site by site, may have associated provisions affecting their layout (no mention is made of design quality) but these remain subsidiary and ancillary to each housing designation, rather than satisfying broader policies. The Local Plan Consultation 18 restricts itself to sites for new housing, lacks a full and realistic context, is devoid of policies to ensure well-designed places or conservation of natural and historic assets and environment and without these fails to meet the requirements set out in the National Planning Policy Framework.

Traffic pollution will increase. Surrounding roads already congested with traffic.
Greenfield land with mature trees Woodland Trust registered, a haven for rare wildlife.
Brownfield sites should be developed before considering greenfield development.
CPRE quote :
“There is substantial evidence that exposure to nature can contribute to physical health and psychological wellbeing. While there are different levels of contact with nature – views of natural features, incidental exposure to nature and being active in a natural environment – tranquil areas represent reservoirs of natural features. These provide access to a green environment which can offer a wide range of health benefits.'

This site should never be considered for housing development. It has prime potential for acquisition by Diss Council as an open space for encouraging nature to thrive close to the town. The amenity could be opened up to provide leisure, recreation and health benefit to residents and visitors to the area. The emphasis might be common land for wildlife, on a par with Quaker Wood in Roydon, so complementing the unique central Diss Park area and Mere.

I moved to Diss recently to find out months later that there's a proposed building development. It's somewhat disconcerting. The area has been grazing land for hundreds of years and the “…. only example of a detached landscape park within a town in Norfolk.” It's important that it remains so. It is described in the South Norfolk Local Plan as an “Important Local Open Space” and to be safeguarded as such. It has a wide array of wildlife and historic trees and shrubs. It is used for grazing cattle in the summer months too.
An “incentive” put forward by the planning agency is to allow public access to the undeveloped land. That would be crazy. Once a fallen branch from an ancient tree either caused injury, (or worse), or damage, I wager all the trees being felled within days as they would be a H&S Hazard. Whoever has custody of the public access areas would have responsibility for maintaining trees in appropriate condition so they would not run the risk of any accidents occurring.Wildlife would be affected.
Whilst I might agree there is a need for " ..... properties designed to cater for the needs of older people as well as people living with a disability" I do not consider there to be a need in this particular meadow.
The proposed development is sited in the northwest corner of the field and would have the maximum impact on the residents in Shelfanger Road and Sunnyside. On the plans I have seen, my own house, for example, would be immediately level with one of the bungalows, right against my back fence. That is totally unacceptable.
I object to the proposed development and any future plans for expansion. I object to any part of The Lawns being open to public access in any form.

Parish Fields must never be labelled as a 'Suitable Alternative'. This is a unique green lung and absolutely essential for it to remain so, thus contributing to the huge quality of life for the residents of Diss. Cows grazing in the middle of Diss, what could be lovelier? Indeed, this had a completely cathartic effect on me. Parish Fields must remain sacrosanct as even one building would have a very detrimental effect on what is a wonderful amenity. There is a huge strength of feeling against any form of development on the historic Parish Fields. It must not be destroyed.

This land is historically important, Listed in the Norfolk Historic Environment Record as NHER.33463 as ‘The only example of a detached landscape park within a town in Norfolk’. It is incredibly important to local wildlife, linking all the gardens around. At a time when our native wildlife is under such threat, the last thing we should be doing with this area of undisturbed haven is building on it, or turning into public park space. It should be left wild. We should be PROUD of having this 'little bit of country coming right into town’, as John Betjeman put it.

This special site has been put forward despite huge local opposition including our town council.

It is recognised by Norfolk County Council as an Historic Environment Site NHER 33463 and is an important piece of parkland with strong historic links to property in Mount street.

With clear environment changes occurring we should be preserving the unique green spaces that allow Nature to flourish within our town.

Please listen to the people who live here. This site should only be built on in a small area in order to expand the Health Centre.

This is a unique pocket of nature within a conservation area. It provides something that is irreplaceable. In this time when we should be protecting areas such as this it is madness to just allow it to provide luxury bungalows. It is part of the beauty of Diss regardless of whether it is accessible to all. It provides a space for threatened wildlife within our town. It is valued by many - I don't live near it but don't want it to disappear. We can't get this back.

This cannot be a "reasonable alternative". It is the gem of Diss; the only Norfolk town with such a green and historic area within the town and close to its centre. It must preserved a such for once it has gone , it is gone forever. There must be brown-field sites in or near Diss that can be used instead.

This land is one of the very few spaces left for nature and wildlife left in Diss, due to to the great number of building projects that have already been undertaken in Diss. It provides a valuable breathing space not only for the current residences surrounding it, but for wildlife, including Owls, many species of Bat, Songbirds, Deer etc.
It also helps to mitigate for the high temperatures in the centre of the town during the summer months, which appear to be increasing year on year due to climate change. This land is also central to a conservation area.

I would like my daughter to grow up with some land still protected for wildlife and plants to grow. Housings is important but not when it comes at cost of our heritage.

I would like my daughter to grow up and still have some of our land protected to allow our wildlife and plants to live on/grow and know that our heritage means something to developers

This is the first time I have objected to any planning applications, but that's because this is important to me. The heritage of this kind of site is one thing, so the small piece of greenery in an already expanding town needs to be kept. The wildlife impact for so many species must be considered, when the impact on our fragile environment is under such scrutiny, so this vibrant area must be saved...

Lovely free space in Diss. not many left. Please leave it for all to enjoy as common land. Now and in the future spaces like this will be needed for physical and mental health of residents. We are already feeling the effects of urbanisation. There are more important things in life than money and making a profit.

The land between Shelfanger Road and Mount Street is "the only remaining known example of a detached parkland style landscape in a Norfolk Town" (Norfolk Gardens Trust report 1997/8 - English Heritage Inspector), available in the Millennium Library. It is rich in biodiversity and cultural history, associated with fine buildings in Mount Street. The Lawns/Parish Fields is highly valued by the community and once lost, is gone forever.
Please be aware of a brownfield site with a derelict Victorian school off The Causeway, unused for 35 years, which could possibly be considered for housing if required.

To describe site 0341 as a "reasonable alternative” shows that you do not understand why it is one of the three most important (and socially valuable) open spaces in Diss.

More than 2,500 people have already signed a petition opposing any building on this site; it is recognised by Norfolk CC as an historic environment site; Diss Town Council are opposed to any building on this site and the Neighbourhood Plan will almost certainly oppose its destruction by the speculative builders, Scott properties. Shame on you for even considering it a "reasonable alternative."