GNLP0480

OBJECT


Inappropriate further development of the village which is already struggling to assimilate the additional houses granted permission last time, the majority of which have yet to be built.

There should be no more development between Hethersett and Wymondham. Traffic is already too heavy. It should be left as farmland with Kett's Oak protected.

1. Executive Summary

The site is well located in Hethersett which is within the Norwich Policy Area and within 7 miles of higher order services and employment opportunities in Norwich City Centre and jobs at Norwich Research Park (3 miles). The village has a wide range of facilities, local employment opportunities and a regular peak-time bus service connecting the site with the main population centres of Norwich and Wymondham.

Hethersett is identified as a key Service Village in the approved Joint Core Strategy. As a well located key service village, Hethersett is an appropriate place to accommodate new housing development.

The allocation site makes a logical extension to the village to help accommodate future growth and is of appropriate scale for its location and to provide a choice of sites to aid delivery in a village that already has a major strategic housing allocation to the north.

The Preferred Development Option Plan shows one way in which the site could be developed to accommodate in the region of 40 dwellings and/or sheltered housing and/or housing with care for the elderly and a 3.08 ha park.

This site could be combined with neighbouring site GNLP481 which could provide a care home and additional housing with care. The care home on site GNLP481 would provide the centre and facilities for care provision across the combined sites. Both sites are under the control of Glavenhill Strategic Land.

In addition to general housing need in this area there is also a particular need for care facilities for the elderly in this location due to the aging population and this site could help to serve that particular need.

The site will not have a significant adverse impact upon the character and setting of the village, or the strategic gap between Hethersett and Wymondham as the layout can be designed to address this as set out within the Chris Blandford Associates report.

The site also offers provision of significant green infrastructure to serve both this site and wider green infrastructure deficiencies within the area. There is also the opportunity to combine this site with GNLP481 to enable the provision of a larger Park across the two sites totalling 6.19 ha.

There are no overriding constraints that would prevent this site from being developed and Glavenhill Strategic Land respectfully request that it be allocated in the Greater Norwich Local Plan.

2. Site Introduction and Description

This site is located immediately to the south of existing residential development on the southwest side of New Road Hethersett. It extends up to the junction with the B1172. Existing residential development to the north-east of New Road faces the site. The site is immediately adjacent to the defined settlement boundary of Hethersett. This 4.64 ha site was previously put forward as a potential allocation to the Call for Sites consultation in July 2016 together with neighbouring site GNLP481. Both sites could be developed together.

The site comprises open arable fields. It is bounded by a wide grass verge and mature 4-metre high hedge along most of its frontage with the B1172. There is a pavement on both sides of the B1172. The boundary to New Road comprises 1.5-metre high mature hedging interspersed with individual oak trees. There is an existing pavement along the north-east side of New Road and bus stops either side of the road with services to Norwich and Wymondham.

4. Site Opportunities

Hethersett is located within the Norwich Policy Area within 7 miles of Norwich City Centre. It is a designated Key Service Centre within the Joint Core Strategy and contains a wide range of facilities including a primary and secondary school; village hall and community centre; a GP surgery; post office; library; public houses; offices to rent and a variety of extended hours shops and services. There are local employment opportunities and a regular peak-time bus service
connecting the site with the main population centres of Norwich and Wymondham. The bus services are First Bus 13A/B/C, 15 and Konect Bus 6/6A. The nearest bus stops are opposite the site on New Road. This is, therefore, a sustainable location to accommodate additional homes.

The Preferred Development Option Plan (Figure 2 below) shows one way in which the site could be developed to accommodate in the region of 40 dwellings and/or sheltered housing and/or housing with care for the elderly and a 3.08 ha park.

In addition to general housing there is a particular need for care home/housing with care facilities within this area due to the aging population and this site could help to meet that need.

This site could provide housing with care and be combined with GNLP481 which could provide a care home and additional housing with care. The care home on site GNLP481 would provide the centre and facilities for care provision across the combined sites.

This would also enable the provision of a larger Park across the two sites totalling 6.19 ha which would make a significant contribution to strategic green infrastructure provision to serve the wider population in an area where there are deficiencies.

Access to the site can be achieved from New Road as shown on the Access Plan below(attached):

The site has no over-riding constraints that would prevent its development (see site assessment under section 6).