GNLP0606

This site actually lies in the Parishes of Roydon and Heywood, and not Diss as listed in the GNLP summary sites for potential development. As an outlier to agricultural land, bounding the winding and busy B1077 into Diss, housing development here would exacerbate pollution, traffic dangers, cause congestion problems in Diss, put pressure on the town's community services, urbanise green space producing more noise and litter disturbance to wildlife etc. Why introduce this site in Heywood Parish if no housing development is listed as being planned?

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 development in these locations would be supported providing they are integrated with development in 0119, 0291, 0342 & 0250 - see note reference link road for Louie's Lane / Shelfanger / Heywood Road.

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.

I am writing to register my concerns, objections and comments about the proposed planning developments within the parish of Roydon and also Diss.

* GNLP0362 - Sturgens Farm, Louis Lane, Roydon.
* I object to this development and I have concerns about the size of the proposed development, 413 dwellings (between 600-100 more people) is far too many for the village of Roydon or
Diss infrastructure to be able to cope with.
* From a health and safety point of view - over 800 additional cars trying to get out onto Shelfanger Road in the morning would cause an issues.
Louis Lane is already a cut though and cars often speed down this lane - a further 800 cars will then make this road a serious health and safety issue.
There has already been a number of accidents at the junction of Louis Lane and Shelfanger Road.
If this development was cut down to 100 houses then I would not object to this development.

* GNLP0526 - High Road, Roydon - I have serious concerns about this development for the following reasons:-
* The close proximity to Roydon Fen - environmental concerns on the effect of wildlife and the Waveney Valley.
* I also have concerns about the number of cars trying to get out onto the A1066 with the junction being so close to the pre-school and other junctions.
* I also completely disagree that the Roydon water tower that is very old and has been part of the Roydon landscape and history for many years will be torn down.

* GNLP0606 - Boundary Farm - I have no concerns about this small development.

* GNLP1038 - Brewers Green Lane, Roydon - I have no concerns about this small development.


I appreciate the need for good quality affordable housing and also realise that these additional developments will bring much need money into the villages and nearby towns. However, the planning committees
must give serious considerations to the following :-

* Local schools both in Diss and Roydon will need expanding - can developer be made to contribute to the extensions that will be needed to cope with the increase number of pupils?
* Doctors surgeries - Lawns Medical Practice & Parish Fields Medical Practice - both these practices lack money and it is already difficult to get a doctor's appointment and increase of additional people in the
area will only impact this further.
* Roads - The A1066 through Diss is a complete nightmare and often takes over half an hour to get from the police station to Tesco's. The A1066 has roundabouts after roundabouts, pelican crossing after pelican crossing and then
a zebra crossing all within 500 metres, this is nothing less than poor planning on behalf of the highways commission and Diss Town Council. A proper link road around and through the Walcot Green area needs to be put in place, freeing up the
town. I live in Roydon but I tend to do the majority of my shopping now in Harleston, Bungay or Beccles and avoid Diss completely because the road layout is so bad. The poor road layout and designing is putting off a large number of people now and
that is why Diss is dying as a town.

Developers should not be allowed to cram in houses - space needs to be given otherwise it just causes anti-social behaviour. Let's be realistic the majority of households have at least two cars - supply driveways that can cater for this.
In Roydon developments like Appletree, Millway, Hose Avenue, have roads that are wider - visiting guests can park their cars on the roads without having to park on pavements. People need space and if they have space then there is less
Anti-social behaviour.

Kind Regards
Dawn Messenger & Martin Hammond

I would like to comment on the proposed new sites suggested in Roydon GNLP2104. GNLP0606 and have had trouble trying to do this on your website.

I would like to object to the development of these sites as they are far too large alongside what is already proposed for Roydon.

I understand that some development is needed but the infrastructure is not there to support the additional houses already in the plan and this proposed development is enormous.

The road network in Roydon would not support a development of this size. Traffic from a development of this size trying to use Diss will cause many difficulties as roads into town are narrow and already used by large lorries traveling to Attleborough. The road network simply would not support this size of development. The density of development is too great in such a small area. The GP surgery is already struggling and will be under more pressure when the agreed houses are completed.