GNLP2160

The Council objects strongly to this proposal. It would represent complete over-development of Horsford. The existing highway infrastructure would be completely inadequate. The pleasant vistas highlighted in the Neighbourhood Plan would be lost and it would effectively create a second village disconnected from existing main settlements and with no village centre.

The proposed site for 600 more houses in Horsford is unacceptable and not required as it is remote from the village center, it will lead to traffic congestion throughout the village. The village already experiences tail backs from the Broadland Northway (NDR) into the village. Due to the remoteness of the proposed site cars would more often than not have to be used to take children to school, to visit the doctors, shops, and amenities etc, it would cause a massive increase in traffic movements within the village and there is very little parking available in the center of the village, even to cope for the existing residents, there is already a new housing estate of some 250 homes now under construction adjacent to this site, we have yet to feel the full effect of the traffic from this development, to even consider further housing at this time is not acceptable. 600 new homes with the average occupancy in England of 2.4 persons per household would mean one thousand four hundred people extra it is a massive amount giving the limited facilities there are for existing villages. the proposed site is also close to a firing range used by Smallburgh Rifle & Pistol Club this is used on a regular basis, not a suitable area for housing development, giving the dangers and noise people would be exposed too.

S Read

There has been, and continues to be, a large amount of residential development in the village of late, which is putting real strain on the infrastructure of roads and services. To add to this will only make an existing issue even worse.

Whilst I appreciate the need for additional housing, it must come with the necessary infrastructure. Following the completion of the A1270 there is already significant delays in accessing it during peak times and the village public facilities are under severe pressures.

This development is of strategic interest to Norfolk FA, especially given the proposal associated to the development of open space.

We note the proximity of this site to Horsford Woods and Horsford Rifle Range County Wildlife Sites and are concerned at the potential ecological impacts of housing in this location. Should this site be progressed to the next consultation stage, then we would expect it to be accompanied by further details demonstrating how it would be deliverable without resulting in damage to adjoining areas of ecological value, for example through providing sufficient stand-off between development and priority habitats, and where proportional the provision of green infrastructure to ensure that the site has a net benefit for biodiversity.

Following recent phased/cumulative development to the north of the village it is difficult to comprehend how continued development on this scale (600 homes) could be considered sustainable in such a confined area. The current highway infrastructure for Horsford ensures there are long delays at peak times of the day when leaving the village while any additional expansion in vehicle numbers on the scale being promoted through GNLP 2160 would leave Mill Lane/Kingfisher Way gridlocked.

Horsford Woods, which is a County Wildlife Site, is already under intense pressure from noise, artificial light, loss of wildlife habitats and, increasingly, overuse. A balance must now be achieved by looking at large sites for development south of the village closer to the Broadland Northway. While still providing new housing this would have less impact on the village and would be located closer to, and therefore more supportive of, any new retail opportunities in the area. I believe as a village we have had more than our fair share of new housing when considering the existing facilities are struggling. This view is shared widely and acknowledged at Thorpe House. Drayton surgery said NO to Phase 2 so we cannot anticipate any improvement on the back of Phase 3.

The Nest within Horsford Parish opened this year with ambitious plans to promote football and other sporting activities. Positioned adjacent to the A140 for easy access The Nest offers extensive and growing facilities in partnership with key supporters including the Norfolk FA. The potential provision of duplicate facilities over and above that already available within the parish as part of promoting GNLP 2160 would not accord with the Horsford Neighbour Plan for this area and with additional vehicle movements through existing or proposed developments on a scale unimaginable it simply could not, in planning terms, be sustainable. The potential loss of any public and amenity land to any one single interest organisation in an area struggling to preserve its natural landscape character would be to deny the village much needed open space and its rural heritage.

The GNLP team having assessed this site commented:

"GNLP2160 is on the eastern side of the village adjacent to the primary school, a recently completed residential development, as well as a recent permission for 259 homes. Constraints include ecology and heritage impacts and the need for significant highways improvements".

"To conclude, GNLP0359R and GNLP2160 might be appropriate for housing, but are not as well related to the built form as some of the smaller, previously-submitted sites. The other two sites may be suitable for development, providing good access onto Broadland Northway"

This would suggest other options are preferable...

It is also important to recognise that now the Norwich Policy Area has an abundant housing land supply for 8.04 years, policies once considered out of date should be given weight in any decision making process preventing any unsuitable and over scaled housing development taking place beyond settlement limits.

I would like to draw your attention of further development off green lane for 600 houses. This would be going a step to far for horsford making it into a second village horsford can not cope with such a huge development the holt road can not cope all extra traffic it is very bad know with traffic queued back from NDR to horsford village hall. I would like you to think very carefully about this application when it goes in. I get very concerned where it is all going to end up.If this goes ahead there will have to be more roads built,schools and medical centres.

Savills (UK) Ltd are instructed on behalf of Barratt David Wilson (BDW) Homes (Eastern Counties) to submit representations on the site known as Horsford Phase 3 (land south of Green Lane) (Site Ref: GNLP2160).

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