GNLP0482

The Parish Council objects to the use of prime agricultural land and the size of the development would be inappropriate to the "village" concept of Horsham and Newton St.Faith

This development would have significant impact on the character of the village. It would increase pressure on an already congested local road network.

Would prejudice a 'no development' policy near the NDR. A key objective of the NDR was to free traffic from the radial roads to and from the City and allow the sustainable transport measures in the NDR DCO.

Greater Norwich Local Plan: Land east of Old Norwich Road, Horsham and Newton St Faith [Site Ref:GNLP0482],
1. The following comments are submitted in support of the suggested allocation of the land east of Old Norwich Road (ref GNDP0482) for housing.
2. It is noted that the site is classified as being suitable for housing development in the Council's Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment (HELAA) 2017. However, a number of technical issues are identified as potential constraints on development, and these issues are addressed below.
Highway safety
3. Access to the site is available directly off Old Norwich Road. New vehicular and pedestrian access is being proposed off Bullock Hill, Spixworth Road and Old Norwich Road. The proposed Old Norwich Road Park will be accessed off Old Norwich Road.
4. It is noted that Old Norwich Road provides a direct link to the village centre and is constructed to a good standard, providing for two -way traffic. and benefitting from street lighting. The road is subject to 30mph speed limit. Good visibility would be available from the junctions onto Norwich Road in both directions. Old Norwich Road has a footpath along its western side and the highway verge along its eastern side (i.e. alongside the proposed site) is sufficiently wide enough so that in the future it can facilitate the construction of any necessary new footway links. There is some provision already in place for pedestrian movement along Spixworth Road
Access to services
5. Horsham and Newton St Faith is identified in the current Joint Core Strategy as a Service Village. Horsham St Faiths has a range of facilities including a Post office and stores (Back Lane), the Church of St Mary and St Andrew, The Black Swan Public house, and St Faiths Centre (Manor Road). The site is within 200 metres of the Post Office and stores.
6. The village is located within approximately 2.4km of the village Horsford that contains a shop for day-to-day needs, restaurants, public houses, a village hall, nursery and primary schools, doctors, and further employment opportunities.
7. A number of bus services operate on weekdays and Saturdays through the village, providing links to Norwich, Reepham and Sheringham. There are bus services running from Norwich Road, service 43 (to Reepham operated by Sanders Coaches), and 44A (to Sheringham also operated by Sanders Coaches). The nearest bus stations are located approximately 160m on Church Street, opposite the Church of Saint Mary and Saint Andrew and 160m on Norwich Road. The site is in close proximity of the NDR.
8. Accordingly, it is considered that the proposal development would benefit from good access to local services, and would accord with local and national planning policies which indicate that to promote sustainable development in rural areas, housing should be located where it will enhance or maintain the vitality of rural communities. Given their accessibility, existing local businesses and services would be likely to derive support from the development due to the addition to the local economy of the spending power of new residents. In these respects, the proposal would support the social and economic dimensions of sustainability as defined in the NPPF. The proposed development will bring benefits to the local area including local housing, amenity area and a community area.
9. It is acknowledged that due to the site's rural location, residents of the proposed development would be reliant to a degree on car travel for their main shopping and leisure trips. However, a number of sustainable transport options would nonetheless be available to access local services, including walking, cycling and public transport.
Local character
10. The land proposed for development comprises an open field located on the southern edge of the village, but is well-contained visually by existing housing to the north and west and by established boundary hedges and trees would not appear out of place. Consequently, whilst the proposal would inevitably result in a loss of openness, its impact on the landscape setting of the village and the character of the area generally would be limited.
11. The established pattern of development in the vicinity is mixed but is made up predominantly of detached and semi-detached houses and bungalows set in good sizes plots. The village has a predominantly nucleated settlement pattern. The proposal would be consistent in form with these developments and so would not appear out of place. The development will be well screened.
Heritage assets
12. There is a number of listed buildings in the vicinity of the site. The White House, located opposite the site, off Old Norwich Road. The significance of these mostly Grade II listed buildings, appears to derive principally from its architectural form/details and historic fabric, together with its setting in grounds on the edge of the village. Given its separation from the site and the screening effects of intervening houses and vegetation, it is considered that the proposed development would not have a material impact on the setting of any of the listed building.
13. The site is not located within a Conservation Area. The Horsham St Faith Conservation Area is located to the north and east of the site boundaries.
Flooding
14. The site falls with Flood Risk Zone 1 (low risk). Further technical work, including a site-specific flood risk assessment, is being commissioned to demonstrate that the proposed development would not be a risk of flooding or be likely to result in an increased flood risk elsewhere in the locality. This will submitted in support of the proposed development as soon as possible.
Transport
15. A report of the existing transport infrastructure by Royal Haskoning DHV concluded that the site can be accessed safely without hindering the integrity of the existing highway network. In addition, it has been demonstrated that it is feasible to provide a package of off-site works which would accommodate residential development at this location and also enhance the provision for sustainable travel within the local community.
16. The report concluded there is no reason relating highways access and infrastructure provision which should hinder the progression of the proposed allocation. A copy of this report for will be sent under separate cover.
Delivery of development
17. No significant infrastructure constraints have been identified to date which would be likely to delay or impede the development of the site for housing. The site is in a single ownership and no further land is needed to enable the land to be brought forward for development. The land is currently available for development and so, subject to approval being given, could delivery housing in the short term.
18. The proposed development would make a positive contribution to the supply of market and affordable housing in the area. The proposal would also add to the range of housing sites available in the locality, providing flexibility and a wider choice of development opportunities to the market, and thus strengthening the local supply of housing land. Pedestrian access to this site could be enhanced by the council as it owns the land adjoining this site and Woodward square. By providing sufficient land of the right type in the right place to support growth the development would address the economic dimension of sustainable development, as defined in the NPPF. The proposal could also include small commercial units for work/home style offices, if there is local demand from small businesses.

Reference: GNLP0482

This site lies either side of Bullock Hill with Spixworth Road to the north and Old Norwich Road to the east.

I believe this to be an unsuitable site for the village of Horsham St Faith for the following reasons:

The visual impact on the village would be such that it would spoil the character of the neighbourhood.
The size of the development would increase the village population by an unacceptable proportion.
Highway safety is an issue. The Spixworth Road entry to the village is a narrow road. The Bullock Hill and Old Norwich Road junctions are difficult and the site of several bad accidents. Indeed the Institute for Advanced Motorcyclist did an investigation of this junction following a particularly nasty accident which required an Air Ambulance to land on the field.
These fields are productive farmland of the highest quality.
Following the completion of the NDR, a new cycle path route, long called for, is only just reaching completion along Bullock Hill. This is an important village amenity as it allows families to cycle safely in a traffic free area.
This site would be out of scale with anything in the vicinity.
Horsham St Faith is a small village with few services and a hugely overstretched doctors practice.
This proposal is not supported by the Parish Council. In past years this land has been offered for planning permission many times. The last time, in excess of 120 people attended the Parish Council meeting to protest, such is the feeling in the village.