GNLP0320

This would have a detrimental effect on the landscape setting of Gonville Hall.

This proposed development far too large. It is a huge estate and is totally inappropriate for Wymondham.

GNLP0320: Land south of Gunvil Hall Farm, bordering Suton Lane and Sawyers Lane, Wymondham
This site is promoted on behalf of the landowner, who also owned the land north of Gunvil Hall Farm which has planning permission for 335 dwellings. Therefore, the site is available for development since it is controlled by a willing landowner. There is strong interest from developers and housebuilders for sites in Wymondham, which demonstrates that if the site was allocated for development it would be deliverable. We commented on the potential constraints to further development in Wymondham in our representations to Question 22. We conclude that those constraints - secondary school capacity, the setting of Wymondham Abbey and the setting of the town - do not apply to the land south of Gunvil Hall Farm. The same approach to design and layout for land south of Gunvil Hall Farm could be applied for development at this site i.e. significant areas of green infrastructure, a buffer around Gonville Hall, and no development in heritage setting corridors.
The site was assessed in the HELAA. Appendix A in the HELAA sets out the site assessment criteria for a range of topics and the scoring system for the assessment. The scoring system is based on whether a topic for a site is scored as 'red', 'amber' or 'green', which results in an overall conclusion about the suitability of a site for development.
Our representations are focussed on those topics with a score of 'amber' for the site; there are no 'red' scores for the site.
* Access: There are no access constraints to the site. The development at land north of Gunvil Hall Farm included two new vehicular accesses off London Road, which were acceptable in terms of highway safety and would not affect the functioning of the highway network. The proposed development at the site would also include new vehicular accesses on to London Road, and we do not anticipate any concerns about highway safety or the function of the highway network. We request that the access score for this site is changed to 'green'.
* Accessibility to Services: The site is accessible by walking and cycling. There are bus services on London Road. Wymondham Railway Station is reasonably accessible. Therefore, there are sustainable modes of transport available from the site providing access to the services and facilities in Wymondham. The development at land north of Gunvil Hall Farm included an obligation to provide a travel plan to promote sustainable transport choices, and we anticipate that a travel plan would be prepared for this site.
* Utilities Capacity: The development at land north of Gunvil Hall Farm will provide the full range of utilities services. The proposed development at the site will also connect to utilities, and as such we request that the utilities capacity score for this site should be changed to 'green'.
* Flood Risk: The site is not at risk of flooding. The development at land north of Gunvil Hall Farm included detention basins within the open space to attenuate surface water flows. Therefore, appropriate solutions exist to address any surface water flooding at the site. We request that the flooding and drainage score for this site is changed to 'green'.
* Historic Environment: The development at land north of Gunvil Hall Farm included significant areas of green infrastructure and open space. The design and layout of that development included a set back from Suton Lane to preserve the setting of the tower at Wymondham Abbey and a substantial area of separation around Gonville Hall, in order to reduce the impact on the setting of these heritage assets. The site is located further from Wymondham Abbey. The proposed development would also include a substantial area of separation around Gonville Hall.
* Transport and Roads: The proposed development at the site would include new vehicular accesses on to London Road, and we do not anticipate any concerns about highway safety or the function of the highway network. The site is accessible by walking, cycling and public transport. We anticipate that a travel plan would be prepared for this site. We request that the transport and roads score for this site is changed to 'green'.
We request that the site assessment is amended to take into account the above comments. The site is assessed as 'suitable' in the HELAA; we agree with the overall conclusion and request that this site is allocated in the Greater Norwich Local Plan for residential development.