GNLP0341

Diss has an attractive conservation area at its core, with an exceptional concentration of listed buildings. As well as including the core of the town centre, the conservation area extends around a series of particularly important and distinctive local spaces, including the Parish Fields, and the form and character of Diss is very heavily reliant on the contribution made by these open spaces. A landscape history research carried out by the Norfolk Gardens Trust in 1997 identified a high number of ornamental gardens in Diss, but a lack of small parks, and this was attributed to the industrial nature of the town in the 18th and 19th centuries. As such the public open spaces like the Parish Fields that have survived since the late 19th century are of a particularly high value and have an historical background.

The Parish Fields site is currently identified as an Important Local Open Space in the South Norfolk Local Plan (Development Management Policy DM 4.4: Natural environmental assets - designated and locally important open spaces) and its development for residential use would clearly adversely affect the open character and appearance of the site. Furthermore, the Greater Norwich Local Plan Regulation 18 Consultation Growth Options document dated 20 November 2017 clearly states that "The GNLP will not amend existing adopted Development Management policies for the three districts except in very specific circumstances where limited policy changes may be required".

In addition, the Parish Fields site contributes significantly to the special character and appearance of the conservation area in not just a visual sense, but socially, historically and architecturally; development of the site would clearly be damaging in this context too. As a site with mature trees, some of which are very ancient, were any potentially to be lost it could detrimentally affect the local bat population; the site also provides a safe and tranquil habitat for several other kinds of wildlife, including muntjac deer, pheasants, and grey squirrels as well as many different species of birds, many of which would disappear if development of the site were to be permitted.

The Parish fields are an important area for wildlife and adds to the character of the town. It is an old style area of land and has much old fauna and flora and would represent a significant loss. It is close to the heritage area and should be maintained to keep the heritage of the town. Although I could support taking a small area for extending the health centre the additional housing proposals will destroy the character of this part of the town.

Valued Green space in old part of the town. Why not build on the mere park too?! If anything should be done it's open it up for recreational purposes not building. If the 'enviroment' part of the GNLP has equal value as the rest of the objectives, areas like this should be rejected for development. Please don't just 'desktop' the decision on these sites. On the wider context Diss is very congested along the A1066 most days now and this problem should be addressed first before development.

This field is a unique area of beauty in a town location. It was used for sledding in the winter and is currently home to deer and owls. The track down the side of the youth centre has ancient Yew trees in it which would vastly narrow any access. These tree are the subject of TPO's
A development on this site would render the town another ubiquitous mass of housing developments. Diss has so much going for it as a town.
Why not use the area as a natural space that can be open to the public. Children need access to nature and it is well documented that it it essential for positive mental health.
How will our children connect to the natural work if they can't access it ?

Parish Fields is one of the few remaining green areas of mature trees and wildlife within Diss, and its development would be to the detriment of the town's heritage. A small development to extend the Health Centre may be acceptable.

I strongly object to any development of the Parish Fields 0341. This area of land needs to be left for the enjoyment of the community with the exception of any future expansion of the health centre which is much needed. This area of land should be given the same status as Diss park and used for leisure purposes by local people.

This is a hidden gem - a pocket of green in the centre of town: a beautiful area for nature and wildlife, with mature trees. A place of 'clean air'. It needs to be for public use and enjoyment, not bricked and concreted over. After all it is named Parish Fields.
I have no objection to expansion of the Health Centre on this site as that is what has been the plan for many years and would only cover a small section of the area.

This site may indeed need to be used in the future for expansion of the health centre. At the moment it is the lung of the town, and an amenity as well, for sledging, not that is can be done without trespassing, but it is a tradition in the area. The land was presented to the town not for development, but to preserve. The bequest would be disrespected if a development should happen, with the possible exception of the health centre. A large movement to preserve the space for posterity was mounted some years ago, with an exhibition of documents.

Please don't allow building on this special piece of green land. Other sites are more appropriate especially on the outskirts such as the old Hamlin's site. These areas are already unattractive and need development, to develop a beautiful meadow and take away a last slice of bucolic England in our lovely town would be appaling.

Issues with access- considerable work would need doing to Shelfanger road to make it safe.

The water table is very high, several natural ponds form over the winter and gardens on the Sunnyside side flood. Drainage needs to be seriously looked into.

The Parish Field is a wonderful green space at the heart of Diss. It would be a huge loss to wildlife and history if this space were to be built on. Let's not develop everywhere in a Diss, let's protect the space in this lovely market town for our children and their children.

I object to the full development of this green space. While the expansion of the Health Centre maybe a necessity, to fully develop this green space would be a huge shame for the residents of Diss. Green spaces within urban areas are a huge benefit to the environment, filtering pollutants and dust from the air. Providing shade, lower temperatures and reducing erosion of soil into waterways. As well as providing a healthy habitat for wildlife and plants, if public access could be improved to this area it could help to improve the general health of humans, reducing stress levels, depression.

Objection on the grounds that GNLP 0341 is an environmental asset that is a valuable part of the town's Green Infrastructure and local Ecosystem Services. It has historic parkland associations, is an area of significant wildlife value.

It consists in an area of meadowland over 200 years old with a mosaic of parkland trees, and it is an historic example of a 'detached park' associated with The Cedars, a notable house in Mount Street, and is listed as NHER 33463.

It is an example of the Priority Habitat unimproved 'Lowland Meadow' listed in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. It is estimated that by 1984 in lowland England and Wales, semi-natural grassland declined by 97% over the previous 50 years. Parish Fields is a good example of such unimproved meadow sustained by continuity of land management for over 200 years. A local resident has recorded that woodpeckers, thrushes, warblers and tawny owls use the site. It may also be classified as an example of the BAP Priority Habitat 'Wood-pasture and Parkland', with its mosaic of veteran trees and meadow land. Surrounded by housing areas, it is an important part of the wildlife network in Diss as it acts as biodiversity reservoir linked with local gardens.

Parish Fields is identified as an Important Local Open Space in the South Norfolk Local Plan. It is thus to be 'protected and positively improved where opportunities arise'. See Development Management Policies Document Policy DM 4.4, and paragraphs 4.28 and 4.42. 'Positive improvement' in this instance would be to ensure the maintenance of regular grazing.

This land is a long-established wildlife habitat in the center of Diss, (even if it is privately owned); as such must be protected from development seeing as there are plenty of alternative options available elsewhere. If this objection is in anyway unreasonable I will require justification as to why an ecological objection is insufficient otherwise I shall consider ignoring this objection fully intentional & take matters further.

Apart from the Park, the last green, open space left in Diss. I would not object to land being used for an extended Health Centre and would urge engagement with the developer such that some land is kept as an open space.

I object to the development of Parish Fields. It is a rare survival of BAP Priority Habitat 'Wood Pasture and Parkland' and unimproved 'Lowland Meadow' in the historic centre of Diss. It is a restful green oasis, varied in terrain, grazed in summer by cattle, and of great environmental value for wildlife. It can be seen from many vantage points from within the town centre. It is not inconceivable that it could be purchased by a mix of public and private funding and managed for wildlife but with public access. Once developed this historic meadow is lost for ever.

The Parish Field is an irreplaceable treasure in the centre of Diss which compliments the tremendous effort of many local people to honour the history of Diss with the renovation of the Heritage Triangle. The environmental benefit of maintaining green spaces in residential areas cannot be overstated with the significant threat posed by severe climate change looming. We strongly object to solving the very significant problem of housing shortage with the development of this land for housing and hope that more suitable sites can be agreed upon.

This is the last natural green site in the centre of Diss and forms part of the Diss Conservation Area. At it's Eastern Bounds is what is considered to be one of the Highlight Streets of Diss. From this street is a wonderful view looking into
the site. It must surely be one of the last grazed areas and as such is most important as a wildlife area. I remember this site as a child and feel that is should be kept as is for my grand children and their offspring. Other sites must be available on the town fringes.

This is a rare and an historical packet of land in the centre of Diss, being very attractive and undulating wood-pasture and parkland with many trees and a proliferation of wildlife. I understand that this is over 200 years old.

This should continue to be preserved for the residents of Diss; indeed, ideally, it should be purchased by the Town Council and residents should have some, if limited, access so that we can all enjoy this wonderful central resource.

So far as I am aware, the question of expanding the Diss Health Centre has been "on the cards" for several years and there appears to be no motivation (from the NHS/Health Trust) to implement any such growth.

Brownfield sites should be employed for house-building before greenfield ones, and there are several such brownfield sites in Diss that could be considered.

As a resident of Diss, I request that this potential travesty should not pass planning stages.

I cannot believe you intend to destroy
this beautiful field in the middle of my town.
It was only a few weeks ago I saw children sledging
down the hill and thinking how lovely it was that it has
been the same for years and not built on as so many
others have.

The Parish Fields contribute greatly to the distinct character of Diss. The significant contribution to this historic character is noted in the Diss Settlement Policy Document of the Adopted South Norfolk Local plan. The Norfolk Heritage Explorer (http://www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk/record-details?mnf33463) describes its recognition in the Norfolk Historic Gardens Survey: "grade two-star (regional importance). Only known remaining example of a Detached Landscape Park in Norfolk"with "Woodland belts established by 1890; some clumps of trees at least as old as 1838". Today this low-input grassland with ancient trees includes two dew ponds over much of the year, attracting ducks and occasionally heron while providing favourable habitat for insects and hence (on warm, summer evenings) bats. Housing development would be entirely inappropriate.

I object to the scale of the development proposed for this site. If a small amount of development were permitted, with the rest of the land being required to for use as public amenity space and an area left for extending the health centre then it would be more likely to meet the needs of the whole community.

The town centre is already very clogged with traffic, further development in such a central area will only add to this problem.

This is a very unwelcome proposal, which will have a major impact on an historically important local open space, and a haven for wildlife. The area in question contributes much to the character of the town. It MUST be kept undeveloped.

Object
While I appreciate that this proposal could be seen as 'planning gain' in that social/health needs are balanced with access agreements, I feel that the land is too valuable to an expanded Diss to be compromised and should remain wholly greenspace for the amenity of Diss. Any enabling development to ensure the retention of this greenspace should be allocated elsewhere.

Inclusion of this and any adjoining sites is considered premature and prejudicial to the Diss & District Neighbourhood Plan which would seek to allocate sites across the NP Area. We comment on this site without prejudice to the above and our comment on this specific site is that we accept that this is land in private ownership but it is considered unsuitable for large scale housing / commercial development. A possible extension to the health centre would be supported.

This land when released by Admiral Taylor years ago, was for it to maintained as an open space for people to admire the vast amount of Wild animal. Deer, foxes, tawny owls. bats.frogs.toads and a multitude of birds from herons to woodpeckers, warblers sparrow hawks and many more. Diss has plenty of land to house the type of settlement proposed, and this site should saved for the benefit of future families and visitors to the town, who have nothing but praise that the various councils have retained it in the centre of what once was a jewel in South Norfolk.

I feel it is important that those working on the GNLP work closely with those working on the Neighbourhood plan to ensure that local wishes form the basis of decisions made,

Whilst I am not directly involved the Neighbourhood plan I am a key member of the local resident's association and feel the views I express below are the views of a lot of people living in Diss.

The plans you produced show mainly the ''call for sites'' and little else. Certainly not the infrastructure to support the sites. Clearly there are more sites than are needed for the projected number of new homes. It is therefore important that any agreed sites are clearly identified as I think it would be completely wrong to allocate more land than is required leaving it for the developer to cherry pick which site to apply to build on. The general feeling amongst residents is that future developments should generally be to the north of Diss. I have commented below on your plans:

Sites for new homes.
* Of the sites offered GNLP0606, GNLP0119, GNLP0291, GNLP0362, GNLP0342 and GNLP0250 are the most suitable as they border a road which could be upgraded to become a Northern Relief Road. However, a portion of this land would be needed to expand the Cemetery which has not been taken into account.
* Plot GNLP1044 is in fact two plots with a road through the middle - Walcot Green. They should be designated as two separate plots. The eastern part could be considered for housing together with plot GNLP1003 providing Walcot Green was upgraded from a single-track road to a more suitable twin track road. Currently because of congestion on Victoria Road, Walcot Green is used as a preferred route into town by many residents
* The western half of plot GNLP1044 and GNLP0599 should be retained as green space. Both these sites would be vigorously opposed by residents. In fact, this is one of the few areas of open 'green field' land left in DIss
* Plot GNLP0102 is in the middle of the Diss Strategic Employment site and should be designated for business development only.
* Plot GNLP1045 is the last green space in an area surrounded by housing and should be retained as a green area.
* Plot GNLP0112 is a very small green area containing a few trees and shrubs and should not be built on. In addition, because of its close proximity to the railway bridge access would be poor and undoubtedly dangerous.
* Plot GNLP0341 is where a town centre car park and the health centre are located. Whilst I agree the health centre needs relocating this area should be retained as a green space and car park close to the town centre
* Plot GNLP0526 is in my opinion suitable for development.
* Plots GNLP0104 and GNLP1038 are very small plots and would not contribute many homes. However, both sites could be suitable for self-build homes.

Town Infrastructure

* Land to the west of Morrisons and to the south of Victoria Road should be designated for Health and Leisure. The land behind the Thatcher's Needle should be allocated for a new modern health Centre and possibly a centralised Dental centre. It is in an ideal location as it is very central, close to the bus station and has more than adequate parking.
* Land adjacent to the Thatcher's Needle where the Feather Factory is presently located should be considered as a location for a new leisure centre
* Traffic congestion is a major problem in Diss adversely affecting residents and business alike. Whilst we have a few minor improvements (tweaks) at the planning stage which will help a little we desperately need a Northern Relief Road (or bypass) and an upgrade to Walcot Green to allow Diss to continue to grow and prosper.

I appreciate this is probably a bit more detailed than you need at this stage but the GNLP and the Diss and District Neighbourhood plan are going to dictate how we grow and prosper over the next 15 years.

Please find attached representations submitted pursuant to the Regulation 18 Consultation on the Greater Norwich Local Plan; and which relate to land at Shelfanger Road, Diss.

Please find additional response for a proposed allocation in Diss that I have only just been made aware of.

Kind regards

John

GNLP 0341 Diss - Norfolk Wildlife Trust additional comment on GNLP

This is an area of green space, which we understand is currently protected, as Local Open Space in the Local Plan and listed as a landscape park in Norfolk heritage record. This area is also likely to have local biodiversity value and could be considered as Priority Habitat Wood-pasture and Parkland, as referenced in the NERC Act and NPPF. In addition, veteran trees may be present on site. In our view, owing to biodiversity constraints and the fact that this area contributes to the green infrastructure of the town, this site should not be allocated

GNLP code number 0341 for the Parish Fields site and I have had difficulty logging on.
Very concerned about building on a historic and environmentally rich area of Diss in the middle of historic mount Street. This is the last street to retain some vestige of history that makes Diss an historic town and heritage area.

RE: SITE GNLP0341 -Diss
It has been brought to my attention that there could be a possibility in the future that Parish Fields in Diss will be developed on and gone forever.
Please find below photos I've taken of this beautiful haven in the middle of our historic town from the cyclo cross taken 41 years ago in 1977, the cows grazing, the children sledging only a few weeks ago and two photos just showing the pure tranquility and beauty of the site.
I for one would be mortified if it were to be developed on and hope common sense will prevail and it will be left alone for the townsfolk to enjoy as it is for hundreds of years to come.
Kind regards