GNLP0425

Support with Conditions:-
Single Storey Dwellings
Boundary Fence to be a minimum height of 1.8 metres

I have no particular objection to single story dwellings being built on this site, in fact I think a carefully planned and designed development here would be a great addition to the village.
However we live in Kingfisher House on Mill Road which is opposite the proposed site and wouldn't necessarily want to look out of our front room window onto a large gable end which would block light as the sun moves to the west to set in the evening. Likewise we'd prefer if the entrance to the development wasn't opposite our drive as car lights would shine straight into our front room and front bedroom in the evening.
Cars often travel along Mill Road at excessive speed, for us this can be tricky leaving our drive as the road to the right is obscured by a curve in the road and a hedge; as such I'd not object if some traffic calming were needed to make the entrance to the proposed development acceptable (if any concerns were raised).
If work were required onthe verge on Mill Road and along the proposed area (potentially for drainage) I think a short footpath in place of the verge would be a great addition as this would give new (and existing) residents a safer route to the pub and to the children's play park (which potentially could have an additional entrance staright into the play equipment area).
Having experienced the benefits of green technology I would like to see the development make use of these, utilising Air source heat pumps in place of oil and good use of solar PV on as much roof space as practicable.
Several of the trees on the perimeter of the site ar not particularly interesting to look at, are covered in ivy and are very close to (or growing through the telephone lines), I'd not object to these being removed but think the hedgerow could be thickened in places and ideally some smaller trees carefully placed in the landscaping of the new area. There is a large oak to the left of our property. This has a reasonably nice shape but has lots of ivy growing over it, if this is on the proposed land perhaps it may benefit from some maintenance.
In an ideal world I'd like to see the properties make use of materials which complement some of the older buildings along Barford road such as flint, and to consider carefully brick choice , mortar color etc. A recent development in Bawburgh by Orchard homes (The Warren, on stocks hill) does this very well.

While the parish council was unanimously opposed to all other proposed developments within the parish, the council initially came to no firm decision on the only site lying in the centre of Marlingford. The parish plan of 2006 (available online at marlingfordandcolt.wixsite.com/home/parish-plan) concluded that residents'wishes were `at most, only very modest housing development, such as the conversion of redundant buildings'. However, at a well-attended public meeting, called by the Council on February 19th 2018 in Colton Village Hall, no opinions were voiced regarding this development, while strong objections were raised to all other sites in the parish. Out of the seven attendees identifying themselves as residents of Marlingford, four were in favour of development of five houses or less in the village while three were against any development.

In the light of these divided opinions, a more detailed consultation was undertaken with leaflets delivered to 27 houses bordering the proposed site. Fourteen responses were received. Seven responses supported the scheme but unanimously with the condition of single-storey buildings only and suitable environmental screening. In particular preservation of the natural hedges surrounding the land and suitable fencing where the land adjoins another residence. Most responses also raised concerns regarding drainage and difficulties with access. Six responses (including three anonymous) were firmly against any development in the village, while one respondent wrote that they would prefer no development on the land, but that single storey dwellings would be acceptable as long as access was from Mill Road.

The result of the consultation shows that the village is divided evenly on the merits of the development plans, but there is no support for large two-storeyed dwellings.
Development on the site faces significant obstacles - specifically drainage, access and visual impact on a rural environment. However a number of residents overlooking the site support the idea of small bungalows to complement existing housing provision in the village.

I chose to live here because of the tranquility and natural beauty of the area. Aready this is being spoiled by the future development of the food hub. I strongly object to any more development in this area.

Our community is set in a rural location with an abundance of wildlife
including many red-status birds, newts, deer, badgers, bats and hare (which
mainly live on high ground) which will all be threatened. At present we
have no street lighting and so have no light pollution which will also be
threatened. There simply is not the infrastructure here to accommodate such
a project, new roads would encourage more traffic and completely destroy
the identity of our village. I would hope that these points would be
considered, they were ignored because of the LocalDevelopmentOrder during
the consultation of the FoodHub/Zone/Park.

With regards to the proposal for around 4000 houses at Honingham Thorpe (GNLP0415 A-G), my reasons for being opposed to this development are as follows:

The increased traffic will make it too dangerous for me to walk around the village. I am blind and walk either with someone or by myself and use a white cane for guidance. The amount of traffic is already increasing through Marlingford and 4000 extra houses will only add to this. 905 houses have already been given the go ahead in Easton, 68 in Little Melton, 14 in Bawburgh and 1295 in Hethersett and this will inevitably lead to more traffic in the area; this is before the Honingham Thorpe development has been given the go ahead. There are no pavements in Marlingford for me to walk on. With the introduction of electric and hybrid cars this is a further problem to me as they do not make any audible noise. I would not know if there were any cars on the road, which would be incredibly dangerous, particularly when crossing the road. I would always have to rely on cars avoiding me, rather than climbing onto the grass banks, which I currently do in order to get out of the way of passing cars. Apart from eye sight problems, I suffer from a range of health problems, including ME, IBS and panic attacks. I also have a range of hearing issues after reacting badly to prescribed medication; these include tinnitus, hearing distortion and noise sensitivity. The increased traffic noise would make it unbearable living here as they exacerbate the symptoms. We already have the constant drone of traffic noise from the A47 and this would only add to it. I have found that walking and being outdoors are the only things that ease any of my symptoms so it would impact overwhelmingly on my quality of life. Because of my disabilities I do not have the option of driving or cycling somewhere else for a walk, so I would feel incredibly trapped if I was unable to walk in our village. I also need to live here as it is close to the Norfolk and Norwich University hospital, where I have to make frequent visits, so I could not move away even if I wanted to. It is also close to essential amenities which I use, including health services, and is close to Wymondham and Norwich, where I attend important health and social groups with the Norfolk and Norwich Association for the Blind and the Wymondham Chiropractic clinic.
The greater amount of traffic on the roads would make it even more difficult to attend these groups, particularly the ones in Norwich. It is already a nightmare getting in to and out of the city along the Dereham and Earlham roads and this would only add to the congestion. The only option for me is to travel in by car and not being able to attend these groups because of the traffic difficulties would lead to me feeling increasingly isolated. I do not feel there is sufficient infrastructure to cope so feel the proposed site is unsuitable.
If the proposed development at Honingham Thorpe did go ahead then I feel it would completely ruin the peace and tranquillity of the area. It would be impossible to enjoy the remaining countryside, whether it was walking round our village, sitting in the conservation area or spending time by the river if Marlingford and the surrounding area were to be subjected to continuous noise and air pollution.
This area is also a hotbed for rare and interesting wildlife, particularly birds of prey. If the Honingham Thorpe development did go ahead then it is inevitable that this would impact heavily on birds of prey, particularly kestrels, barn owls and red kites, as there would be much less suitable hunting ground for them to use. As numbers of barn owls and kestrels have declined significantly in the last ten years it is important that they are protected and encouraged as much as possible. Uncommonly seen birds such as the Hawfinch, cuckoo and grey wagtail, which are found in Marlingford and are on the RSPB red list for severely threatened birds, would also be effected by negative changes and losses to the local environment.

5 dwellings proposed for Marlingford GNLP0425

I am opposed to the five dwellings being proposed for development in Marlingford. It would be out of keeping with the natural feel and greenery of the village, thus changing the whole characteristics of the village. The area proposed for development borders the conservation area on one side and a garden on the other. It would be completely out of keeping with this part of the village and would represent an inappropriate form of development in a rural area. The area of land in the centre of Marlingford, which is surrounded by Mill road, Barford road and Church road, is largely made up of ancient woodland, the conservation area, a few gardens, cricket pitch and farmland. There are only a few houses dotted around this area. Any more dwellings would start to change this largely rural and undeveloped area, so that it was more built up like the surrounding edges of Marlingford.
If it was given the go ahead then I fear that it would only encourage more houses to be built in this section of Marlingford; further destroying the peace and tranquillity of the area, as well as impacting adversely on local wildlife and the Green Belt.

This area, and Marlingford in particular, is incredibly damp, resulting in many houses and much of the village being hit by frequent drainage problems over the last ten years. Many houses close to the suggested site have standing water in their gardens for much of the year and standing water on the roads and fields is an ever increasing problem. The proposed site is also in close proximity to a drainage ditch which is often full and over flowing with water. It would be crazy to build on this as the ground is so soft and sodden, as the water table is so high, and would only add to the existing drainage difficulties. Not only would this effect the new proposed houses but would exacerbate the existing drainage problems that many people are already suffering from.
Most households in Marlingford use septic tanks and many people are already experiencing problems with these, due to the high water table. Untreated sewage is running into open ditches and extra water content in the village is only going to worsen this problem. There is already insufficient infrastructure to cope with the current drainage requirements so more houses and more water is only going to add to these issues.

Extra houses would also put a greater strain on other services, such as broadband internet, which is currently not up to standard and unable to meet the demands of the village.
More houses will also mean more noise pollution from essential activities such as cutting grass, hedges and other household and garden maintenance, further impacting on the peace and tranquillity of the area.

In essence I, and many other people, enjoy Marlingford and the surrounding area for the rural, environmentally friendly part of Norfolk that it is. I wish it to remain a village and not become a part of Norwich. I believe that we should do everything we can to protect environmental areas such as this, not just for people today but for future generations as well. I would be incredibly grateful if this area was not approved for development and was allowed to remain beautiful and rural. Thank you.