GNLP0477R

There is no capacity in the village. Lack of school facility and infrastructure.

Objection

There are already too many new developments in the village. The road system does not support them let alone anymore. The village is not designed for a large number of houses. A very small shop wth limited parking. No Dentist or doctor and the school is very small and would not cope.

There is not enough infrastructure to cope with so many new houses.
There is no doctor or dentist in the village, the school will not be able to cope meaning that some existing residents may get declined a place for their young children approaching school age. The public transport is very limited and due to the nature of the roads through the village it is not suitable to increase this. Due to the large developments in hethersett there is a huge increase in traffic through the village which the roads will begin to struggle to cope with.
Existing residents are already suffering a decrease in market value in their homes due to the recent new builds, more homes built will only decrease this further and do absolutely nothing to boost the economy of the village.

I think the village is to small to have anymore houses. It's like a race track as it is.

No new school or doctors or any new services being built to accommodate all the people who would inhabit these new houses. No road upgrades being made to already busy roads which are becoming rat runs for cut through traffic. Over crowding a beautiful village and taking away beautiful green spaces which is why we live here!

No new school or doctors or any new services being built to accommodate all the people who would inhabit these new houses. No road upgrades being made to already busy roads which are becoming rat runs for cut through traffic. Over crowding a beautiful village and taking away beautiful green spaces which is why we live here!

I object to this development due to this being directly next door to my premises and would significantly impact on our privacy. In addition this development would create additional traffic flow on School Lane, causing potential dangers especially for the school.

There are many reasons to object to this development ,The 1st and most major one is the entrance leading onto an already overcrowded village lane especially at school opening and closing times ,This should be stipulated to visiting planning officers to the site to visit at these times to witness the chaos at times already without further development . The effect on wildlife in this unspoilt area is also a big concern .

Will noNorfolk village survive.

Please don't permit this development to go ahead as Little Melton is already rapidly losing it's sense of village identity and is in danger of becoming a suburb of Norwich!
There has been a very substantial increase in car traffic through the village in the last 10 years, such that parents are no longer prepared to allow their children to cycle to high school in Hethersett. This increase results from current house building both in the village and on the north side Hethersett land and the NRP. The back roads were never designed for the volume or speed of modern traffic and congestion at main road junctions leads to increased 'rat running' by motorists to try and avoid delays. There is poor (and expensive) provision of public transport to service the additional population, with the bus service from Little Melton being substantially eroded, such that there is no longer a direct bus into Norwich from the village.
There has been a lack of additional provision to the doctor's surgery in Hethersett despite the massive increase in population. To get an appointment at the local doctors surgery patients need to queue at 8.30 each day, which is a major problem for working patients.
There is currently only one shop in the village that faces an uncertain future, which most people need to drive to buy even their basic supplies.

This site has already been refused permission. The entrance is opposite the school, which already generates a large amount of traffic. The site is badly designed with a pinch point next to the properties on School Lane which will affect their privacy and quiet enjoyment of their properties. The site adversely affects the site of a listed building (the barn at Elm Farm).

poor provision of public transport
lack of services in the village
no doctor or dentist
one small shop with very limited parking - which may close if no buyer comes forward
poor road system
roads already facing huge increase in traffic from developments at Hethersett and NRP
loss of gap between the village and neighbouring towns and villages, which are all expanding

The village lacks the infrastructure to cope with more houses. The road system is poor, public transport is limited, there's no facilities - no drs, dentist, shops etc.

This was once a small village and the services have always been minimal, but are getting less with the potential loss of the only shop. There is no GP or Dentist and already an oversubscribed village school. Public transport is very poor and the road system is not up to more traffic. This development will create a loss of gap between the village and neighbouring towns and villages, which are all expanding.

We simply do not have sufficent services in this village to support anymore housing. Access to this site would add to increasing traffic problems through the village and near the school. It would also result in the loss of valuable green space

Object due to loss of strategic gap between Hethersett and Little Melton.
Poor roads meaning exit would be opposite primary school and therefore dangerous.
Hardly anyone uses buses which are daytime only so provision of extra bus stops unnecessary. Village has no doctor or dentist and the shop is up for sale with no buyer likely. Plagued with development which has resulted in increased traffic although the traffic surveys quoted do not take this into consideration. We moved to be in a peaceful, rural location not to be joined with neighbouring Hethersett which has increased crime rate.

Already a lack of local amenities; the nearest GP is in Hethersett and already oversubscribed. The only shop in the village is due to close; public transport from the village into Norwich is infrequent and the school, which has an outstanding ofsted (largely due to its small size and teacher/student ratio) would be unable to support the extra families in its current state.

The local road network is already at capacity. School lane is dangerous as there is significant traffic and no speed restrictions, which is particulalry dangerous for children in the village walking to and from school each day.

Ecological surveys indicated in local reports suggest proposed development would lead to a loss of habitat.

I wish to use this consultation process to express why Little Melton is not suitable for major growth and I make the following points.
It is clear from the development going on in the village now that the current policy approach is for smaller sites and infilling. I think this is an appropriate way for the village to continue to grow.
The character of Little Melton today is very much a rural village. All the approach roads, with the exception of the northern end of Green Lane as it joins the Watton Road, are narrow and constrained. The rural character is reinforced by green verges along the roads and the lack of formal kerbs and street lighting. There are limited lengths of footway within the village itself.
The form of the village is of linear development along the lanes: School Lane, Mill Road, Great Melton Rd and Braymeadow Lane. There is some estate development off these. The village doesn't have a strongly identified centre; there are two areas of stronger activity, one along School Lane between the shop, pub and school, and the other around the area of the church, village hall and playing field.
As a settlement, Little Melton is classified as a Service Village. This is because it has a shop, primary school and bus service. However, the shop is small, it doesn't offer very much and it's difficult to park there. It is currently on the market to be sold and has been for a long time because the current owners wish to retire which might mean it is not a viable business in the future. The bus service is not frequent enough to be a reasonable option for most journeys. It connects the village to Hethersett in one direction and the hospital in the other. At the hospital it's possible to change buses to get into Norwich. The school has limited space to grow.
There is no sustainable means of getting to the nearest GP, which is 2 miles away in Hethersett. The bus service is too infrequent, and walking or cycling are not safe or attractive on the narrow country lanes, which are unlit. There are no rights of way which connect the village to Hethersett in this direction.
Major growth at Little Melton is not an appropriate strategy because is it unsustainable:
* A car is needed for most journeys
* Major estate development at the village would relate poorly to the existing village form - it would be 'behind' the existing houses which face the lanes and it would feel disconnected from main active areas of the village. It would be out of proportion for the village and out of keeping with its character.
Widening / improving the road approaches to the village to accommodate the increased car trips from development would not be appropriate - this would introduce hard highway infrastructure and urbanise the village.
Appropriate development at the village could include sites GNLP0182R (near the church and south of Great Melton Road), GNLP0495 (south of School Lane) and GNLP0477 (east of Burnthouse Lane).
Most of the areas of GNLP0340 (the big site south of Watton Road) and of GNLP0244 (off Braymeadow Lane), and the whole of GNLP0488 (off the old School Lane cul de sac) fall within the Southern Bypass Landscape Protection Area, which appears to restrict development. It's probably within the control of the plan to change that protection area but it would appear to be unlikely. However, the plan might put forward parts of these sites: the southern part of GNLP0340 falls outside the zone, as does the part of GNLP0244 immediately alongside Braymeadow Lane.
It is hard to see how the development of the southern part of GNLP0340 could relate well to the village - it would be 'behind' the existing houses, unless it incorporated a street to connect it to School Lane somewhere near the school. Some development along the north side of Braymeadow Lane could work but I think the lane would need to be widened to allow safe access.
If major development happened at Little Melton, any improvement of the roads would need to be sensitively designed to preserve the rural character of the village. The form of development would need to be carefully considered to connect it well into the existing village form and not just big blobs of estate development hidden behind existing houses. In the worst case scenario, if major development were to happen in the village, it should bring material benefit (that is fairly and reasonably related in scale and kind to the development). This could include:
* A better shop in a central location with proper parking (proper newsagent / off-licence / Post Office / pharmacy)
* A more frequent bus service
* A GP surgery
* Retirement homes or sheltered housing
It is important to ensure that separation is maintained between Little Melton and Hethersett, especially if Hethersett were to expand to the north. There are strategic gap policies separating Hethersett from Cringleford and Wymondham to the east and west, but nothing to the north. A similar policy separating Little Melton from Hethersett is highly desirable.
I have lived in the village for 30 years and enjoyed its rural nature; I hope my points against its greater development will be considered sympathetically.

Little Melton is a rural village, without a strongly identified centre.
All the approach roads are narrow and constrained, some with very tight "S" bends.
Like most villages of this nature, the roads have green verges, a lack of formal kerbs, limited street lighting and a limited amount of footway, thus posing a serious risk to pedestrians and cyclists alike.

Little Melton is also classified as a Service Village, by virtue of the shop, primary school and bus service. Unfortunately, the shop is small and parking is problematical, also the bus service is too infrequent with severely limited destinations for it to be a reasonable option for most journeys.
This means there is not an adequate means of getting to the nearest GP, which is 2 miles away in Hethersett, or indeed proper shopping facilities within easy reach, the nearest being located several miles away in the suburbs of Norwich.

Major growth at Little Melton is an entirely inappropriate strategy because is it unsustainable for the following reasons:
* A car is needed for most journeys
* Major estate development at the village would relate poorly to the existing village form - it would be 'behind' the existing houses which face the lanes and it would feel disconnected from main active areas of the village. It would be out of proportion for the village and out of keeping with its character.
* Improving the road approaches to the village to accommodate the increased car trips from development would introduce hard highway infrastructure and urbanise the village.
* Most of the areas of GNLP0340, GNLP0244, and the whole of GNLP0488 fall within the Southern Bypass Landscape Protection Area, which appears to restrict development.
* It is hard to see how the development of the southern part of GNLP0340 could relate well to the village
However some appropriate development could include sites GNLP0182R (near the church and south of Great Melton Road), GNLP0495 (South of School Lane) and GNLP0477 (East of Burnthouse Lane). Should any further development be considered at Little Melton the following criteria should observed:
* The roads would need to be improved and designed in a way to preserve the rural character of the village.
* Any development would need to be carefully considered to connect it well into the existing village form and not just big estate development hidden behind existing houses.
* There must be a substantial and strategic gap maintained between Little Melton and Hethersett, of at least 300 metres.
* Any development should bring material benefit to the village such as:
o Better shopping facilities sited in a convenient and appropriate location with adequate parking arrangements. This should include a substantial convenience stores/Post Office/pharmacy.
o A full bus service
The development of the village so far has been along the lanes, with limited estate development off these. It would seem, therefore, that this would be the most appropriate way for the village to continue to grow in the future, by way of smaller/infill sites, as per the current policy approach.

Greater Norwich Local Plan Consultation
I wish to use this consultation process to express why Little Melton is not suitable for major growth and I make the following points.
It is clear from the development going on in the village now that the current policy approach is for smaller sites and infilling. I think this is an appropriate way for the village to continue to grow.
The character of Little Melton today is very much a rural village. All the approach roads, with the exception of the northern end of Green Lane as it joins the Watton Road, are narrow and constrained. The rural character is reinforced by green verges along the roads and the lack of formal kerbs and street lighting. There are limited lengths of footway within the village itself.
The form of the village is of linear development along the lanes: School Lane, Mill Road, Great Melton Rd and Braymeadow Lane. There is some estate development off these. The village doesn't have a strongly identified centre; there are two areas of stronger activity, one along School Lane between the shop, pub and school, and the other around the area of the church, village hall and playing field.
As a settlement, Little Melton is classified as a Service Village. This is because it has a shop, primary school and bus service. However, the shop is small, it doesn't offer very much and it's difficult to park there. It is currently on the market to be sold and has been for a long time because the current owners wish to retire which might mean it is not a viable business in the future. The bus service is not frequent enough to be a reasonable option for most journeys. It connects the village to Hethersett in one direction and the hospital in the other. At the hospital it's possible to change buses to get into Norwich. The school has limited space to grow.
There is no sustainable means of getting to the nearest GP, which is 2 miles away in Hethersett. The bus service is too infrequent, and walking or cycling are not safe or attractive on the narrow country lanes, which are unlit. There are no rights of way which connect the village to Hethersett in this direction.
Major growth at Little Melton is not an appropriate strategy because is it unsustainable:
* A car is needed for most journeys
* Major estate development at the village would relate poorly to the existing village form - it would be 'behind' the existing houses which face the lanes and it would feel disconnected from main active areas of the village. It would be out of proportion for the village and out of keeping with its character.
Widening / improving the road approaches to the village to accommodate the increased car trips from development would not be appropriate - this would introduce hard highway infrastructure and urbanise the village.
Appropriate development at the village could include sites GNLP0182R (near the church and south of Great Melton Road), GNLP0495 (south of School Lane) and GNLP0477 (east of Burnthouse Lane).
Most of the areas of GNLP0340 (the big site south of Watton Road) and of GNLP0244 (off Braymeadow Lane), and the whole of GNLP0488 (off the old School Lane cul de sac) fall within the Southern Bypass Landscape Protection Area, which appears to restrict development. It's probably within the control of the plan to change that protection area but it would appear to be unlikely. However, the plan might put forward parts of these sites: the southern part of GNLP0340 falls outside the zone, as does the part of GNLP0244 immediately alongside Braymeadow Lane.
It is hard to see how the development of the southern part of GNLP0340 could relate well to the village - it would be 'behind' the existing houses, unless it incorporated a street to connect it to School Lane somewhere near the school. Some development along the north side of Braymeadow Lane could work but I think the lane would need to be widened to allow safe access.
If major development happened at Little Melton, any improvement of the roads would need to be sensitively designed to preserve the rural character of the village. The form of development would need to be carefully considered to connect it well into the existing village form and not just big blobs of estate development hidden behind existing houses. In the worst case scenario, if major development were to happen in the village, it should bring material benefit (that is fairly and reasonably related in scale and kind to the development). This could include:
* A better shop in a central location with proper parking (proper newsagent / off-licence / Post Office / pharmacy)
* A more frequent bus service
* A GP surgery
* Retirement homes or sheltered housing
It is important to ensure that separation is maintained between Little Melton and Hethersett, especially if Hethersett were to expand to the north. There are strategic gap policies separating Hethersett from Cringleford and Wymondham to the east and west, but nothing to the north. A similar policy separating Little Melton from Hethersett is highly desirable.
I have lived in the village for 30 years and enjoyed its rural nature; I hope my points against its greater development will be considered sympathetically.