COL2/0140C Policy

Thank you for consulting Historic England on the Greater Norwich Local Plan Regulation 19 Draft including The Strategy and The Sites. As a statutory consultee, our role is to ensure that the conservation of the historic environment is fully integrated into planning policy and that any policy documents make provision for a positive strategy for the conservation and enjoyment of the historic environment.

Our comments below should be read with reference to our previous comments dated 1.2.17, 15.3.18, 4.12.1, 26.4.19 and 16.3.20. Please also see our detailed comments in the attached tables, Appendix A in relation to The Strategy and Appendix B regarding The Sites.

SUMMARY
The Greater Norwich Local Plan covers the Strategy and Site Allocations. While commenting on the plan as a whole, Historic England is particularly concerned, for its implications for Norwich itself. Norwich is one of England’s great historic cities, and its architectural and historic character, and the sense of place associated with that, make a profound and wholly beneficial contribution to the city’s well-being.

In line with paragraph 185 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) it is important that the Plan should set out a positive strategy for the conservation and enjoyment of the historic environment, including heritage assets most at risk through neglect, decay or other threats.

On behalf of our clients University of East Anglia, we support the proposed allocation of Policy GNLP0140-C, within the Pre-Submission (Reg 19) Joint Local Plan.

Delivery of the site within the Plan period to 2038 is achievable, and the site remains suitable, available, achievable and viable for the following reasons:

Suitable
The identification of the site as a draft allocation will help to support the expansion of the UEA and the wider NRP, alongside sustaining and enhancing the valuable role which the UEA and NRP hold for Norwich and the wider context. The UEA are fully committed to development on this site, and view it as an integral part of meeting the UEA’s future growth requirements. Given that the site benefits from historic planning consent for an Innovation Centre (reference: 2008/0736), the suitability of development on the site has been previously established.

Available
The UEA are long-term leaseholders of the site. It is anticipated that development on the site would commence within the plan period, noting the expiry of the current use in 2027.

Achievable
Based on the suitability assessment above, there are no site-specific constraints which could preclude the delivery of Class E Science Park development, hospital expansion and other proposals ancillary and complementary to these uses.

Viable
We are confident that the delivery of the site is viable having regard to the policy requirements of the draft GNLP and there are no factors that we are aware of, at this moment in time, that could prevent the delivery of the site.