GNLP0603R

25 houses is far too many for an "other village" designated for limited in-fill only. Access to this site is via a track which leads on to Church Road, a busy minor road, at a dangerous bend with no pavement. It is opposite a play area and point of pick-up and drop off for the school bus. There is no bus-stop in the village (as indicated on the accompanying map) and no employment potential.

Access to this proposed plan is only onto Church Road, a narrow, badly lit road with minimal footpaths. It would also be on a blind bend and as most cars do not adhere to the speed limit through the village it would be a hazardous junction. There are no amenities to cope with the extra housing, no shops, doctors or schools. Just a waste of good agricultural land.

This is dangerous site for development due to the blind bend. There are no facilities to sustain a development of this size and presumably South Norfolk Council have no plans to provide them in this time of austerity and uncertainty. I also have concerns about the quality of housing provided. The exit from Church Road onto the A140 is already difficult and dangerous without extra traffic.

This development will significantly increase traffic in the area, in witch people (non-residents) already travel though our village at well over the 30mph speed limit and with a double-blinde bend in the center of the village it will be a far more dangerous area in which to walk, drive and live. This is of paramount importance as our village in now home to a number of toddlers and small children and as the parent I cannot see how this development and the traffic that it will bring with it will do anything but make our village a more dangerous place in which to live. This is only one facet of the issue as a large number of our residents (my self included) will lose our best dog walk and be force to find a new place to exercise our pets.

This proposal is for 25 houses on agricultural land. All access would be via what is currently a lane onto Church Road opposite the Church. This narrow lane includes the frontages of two private houses and opens onto a double blind bend on the main road through the village. Traffic travelling between Mulbarton and the A140 shows little respect for either the speed limit (30, it should be 20) or the possibility that people might be crossing the road around the next bend. Vehicles from 25 new houses attempting to access Church Road at this point would be invisible and unable to see traffic already on the road. Any change to the road system would have a severe impact on the residential character of the village. If these houses are built, access can only be directly from the A140.

This proposal is for 25 houses on agricultural land. All access would be via what is currently an alleyway onto Church Road opposite the Church. This alley includes the frontages of two private houses and opens onto a double blind bend on the main road through the village. Traffic travelling between Mulbarton and the A140 shows little respect for either the speed limit (30, it should be 20) or the possibility that people might be crossing the road around the next bend. Vehicles from 25 new houses attempting to access Church Road at this point would be invisible and unable to see traffic already on the road. Any change to the road system would have a severe impact on the residential character of the village. If these houses are built, access can only be directly from the A140.

The JCS has said Swainsthorpe is only suitable for infill so 25 houses is ludicrous. The access is via Chuch view which is close to the village green and play area, and this is where the school bus stops, it is also on a blind bend it's Dangerous. Swainsthorpe has no school or doctors and a development will increase the already stretched resources in Mulbarton which is the nearest village. Additional traffic going onto the A140 will cause even more congestion as this main road is already at full capacity. Loss of arable land and an impact on wildlife.

The site is not suitable for the proposed development for the following reasons:
1. The absence of any core services in the village.
2. Limited vehicular access. Direct access to the A140 would be impossible and dangerous. Access via Church View, given its entry point on a bend in Church Road, would be equally dangerous. Entry onto the A140 at peak times is already congested. The village would become log-jammed, particularly when the increasing traffic from Mulbarton is taken into account.
3. The construction of 25 additional houses will alter the essence of the small rural settlement of Swainsthorpe and have a deleterious effect on the setting of St Peter's Church, a listed building.
4. The development is unnecessary. Alternative sites with better facilities and access are available and are more suitable for development.

1. The traffic on the A140 is already beyond the capacity of the road for much of the day. The junction of the A140/Church Rd/Access rd to Swainsthorpe Hall and Hall Farm is already very dangerous. Further traffic from Swainsthorpe and Mulbarton joining the A140 is inconceivable in the mornings and in the evening. Those turning right in to Swainsthorpe will cause a queue back into Norwich (similar to Newton Flotman ).
2. Loss of public amenity eg walk to Hickling Way.
3. Loss of view across fields to village/church and its flagpole—-important reminder of special days for A140 drivers

A development of this size is inappropriate to this small village and would significantly increase the existing traffic dangers on Church Road near a blind bend and at a point used to pick up students for transport to the High School in Long Stratton as well as further overloading that road as an access to the dangerous junction with the A140.

We cannot cope with more houses or traffic!
Our roads are already far too narrow - we already struggle as it is, our amenities are limited, there is minimal lighting also making it extremely hazardous, and joining/leaving Church road is already far too dangerous due to the volume of traffic we already have. How do you actually expect us to deal with more?
We have a rural, beautiful landscape full of wildlife - there are not enough of these places left, please do not ruin our land because of your greed.

The site has unsuitable access, onto a blind bend next to the local children's play area and village green and immediately next to existing properties.
The proposed 25 dwellings would increase traffic on Church Road and produce a dangerous junction at the site access due to it being onto a blind bend, there are daily queues accessing the A140 and the site would increase strain on this already busy junction.
Development should be on 'brownfield' sites rather than using a 'greenfield' site such as this.
There will be an impact to local wildlife and biodiversity with the loss of arable land.
The village has no facilities to support extra development.

Adding 25 houses would not add anything to the village other than more traffic. We do not have a shop or school or pavements to justify more homes.
Swainsthorpe won best small village for two years( under 300). Let's keep it that way.
So many villages are turning into small towns...let's not make Swainsthorpe one of them.

I support the construction of houses within Swainsthorpe using the opportunities for infill that have yet to be exploited. I am not, however, in favour of development which spreads onto green field sites beyond the current development envelope nor of the density of housing that is envisaged and will inevitably result in inappropriate urban-style development within a rural community.

GNLP0603R

The applicant states 'The proposals will support the local economy through the increased use of existing local services and provide new homes to contribute to the social sustainability of Swainsthorpe '
This statement is untrue. There are few existing local services - no school, no shop, no post office, no doctors surgery. All of these facilities are a 2 mile car journey away down narrow country lanes to Mulbarton where they are all are overstretched by the continuing development there. The limited bus service runs only during the day accessible from stops on either side of the A140. Waiting on either side is unpleasant. Crossing from the far side is a very scary experience, even in daylight hours.
Swainsthorpe does not need 25 new houses to contribute to social sustainability. The community is already busy and lively with a thriving social programme. There are around 160 houses in Swainsthorpe. An additional 25 is far too many for an "other village" designated for limited in-fill only as termed in the JCS and too many to absorb into a tiny local community.
The village does not have continuous pavements and the street lighting is extremely poor.
Access
The proposed access via Church View onto Church Road is on a blind bend. I cross this road regularly dog walking and have almost been knocked over many times. The speed restriction is 30mph which is far too high. A recent speedwatch check showed many drivers speeding at 50mph through the village.
Church View faces the church which has no car park so it is usual to find vehicles parked on the road - or partly on the pavement - opposite Church View. The school bus waits and picks up outside the church, opposite Church View. The village green with its children's play area is opposite Church View. .These all exacerbate the dangerous exit.
Church Road is a narrow road already used as a "rat run" to Mulbarton and Swardeston. This use will increase if the already congested A140 becomes even busier.
The A140 is a heavily congested road. Access towards Norwich or southwards is often extremely difficult entailing a long frustrating wait either at the end of Church Road or isolated in the filter lane waiting to turn in and faced with juggernauts thundering towards the filter. It is likely that new houses would bring one or two cars each to the visit all adding to the pollution and congestion already present.
Environment
There is a very well used public footpath starting at Church View. This will be lost. Swainsthorpe is very poorly supplied with footpaths and bridlepaths - sadly, as a keen walker, it the worst village I have lived in.
This site would be a precedent for similar developments changing the rural character of the village forever. The existing agricultural land is habitat for a wide variety of mammals, insects and birds and o build on this site would destroy acres of our farm land on the edge of the village forever.

Summary

* Highly dangerous access onto Church Road on blind bend opposite children's playground, school bus pickup, parking for church community centre
* Loss of agricultural land, wildlife habitat and footpaths
* 25 dwellings is far too many for an "other village" designated for limited in-fill only in the JCS
* Lack of existing social infrastructure and facilities
* Addition to pollution and congestion on A140
* Out of character with the existing village

GNLP0603R

The applicant states 'The proposals will support the local economy through the increased use of existing local services and provide new homes to contribute to the social sustainability of Swainsthorpe '
This statement is untrue. There are few existing local services - no school, no shop, no post office, no doctors surgery. All of these facilities are a 2 mile car journey away down narrow country lanes to Mulbarton where they are all are overstretched by the continuing development there. The limited bus service runs only during the day accessible from stops on either side of the A140. Waiting on either side is unpleasant. Crossing from the far side is a very scary experience, even in daylight hours.
Swainsthorpe does not need 25 new houses to contribute to social sustainability. The community is already busy and lively with a thriving social programme. There are around 160 houses in Swainsthorpe. An additional 25 is far too many for an "other village" designated for limited in-fill only as termed in the JCS and too many to absorb into a tiny local community.
The village does not have continuous pavements and the street lighting is extremely poor.
Access
The proposed access via Church View onto Church Road is on a blind bend. I cross this road regularly dog walking and have almost been knocked over many times. The speed restriction is 30mph which is far too high. A recent speedwatch check showed many drivers speeding at 50mph through the village.
Church View faces the church which has no car park so it is usual to find vehicles parked on the road - or partly on the pavement - opposite Church View. The school bus waits and picks up outside the church, opposite Church View. The village green with its children's play area is opposite Church View. .These all exacerbate the dangerous exit.
Church Road is a narrow road already used as a "rat run" to Mulbarton and Swardeston. This use will increase if the already congested A140 becomes even busier.
The A140 is a heavily congested road. Access towards Norwich or southwards is often extremely difficult entailing a long frustrating wait either at the end of Church Road or isolated in the filter lane waiting to turn in and faced with juggernauts thundering towards the filter. It is likely that new houses would bring one or two cars each to the visit all adding to the pollution and congestion already present.
Environment
There is a very well used public footpath starting at Church View. This will be lost. Swainsthorpe is very poorly supplied with footpaths and bridlepaths - sadly, as a keen walker, it the worst village I have lived in.
This site would be a precedent for similar developments changing the rural character of the village forever. The existing agricultural land is habitat for a wide variety of mammals, insects and birds and o build on this site would destroy acres of our farm land on the edge of the village forever.
Summary
* highly dangerous access onto Church Road on blind bend opposite children's playground, school bus pickup, parking for church community centre and village notice board
* irretrievable loss of agricultural land, wildlife habitat and footpaths'
* 25 dwellings is far too many for an "other village" designated for limited in-fill only in the JCS
* application states 'increased use of existing local services' but there is a lack of existing social infrastructure and facilities
* additional dwellings increasing pollution and congestion on A140
* out of character with existing village

The facilities in this village are inadequate to support a development of this size.
In particular 1. There are no local shops
2. Public transport is woeful
3 The A140 is already overloaded and dangerous
This and other developments would turn Swainsthorpe into a dormitory village for Norwich rather than, which would be preferable for the future, a self sufficient if small rural village.

The site is not suitable for the following reasons:
Infrastructure - Absence of core services in the village, and poor transport links;
Access - proposed development is on a blind bend and Church Road is already over-used due to traffic from Mulbarton at peak times;
Village character - 25 extra houses will alter the nature of the small rural settlement and the setting of St Peter's Church, a listed building.
Lack of necessity - Sites with better facilities and access are available and are more suitable for development.

I strongly object to any future development in swainsthorpe.
This will just create traffic chaos, traffic passing through our village down church road would just make it dangerous as there is no path for pedestrians in areas. And added volume of traffic on the A140, which is an already very busy road.
The loss of countryside would be so sad too, for walkers in our lovely village.
Disruption to to local residents while all the construction is going on will be very disturbing.
The added pollution form the extra vehicles would be just too much. Noise and the fumes..

There are no amenities in this village to support this proposed development. Vehicular access via Church View joins Church Road on a dangerous blind corner and would further add to an already congested junction with the A 140.

I am writing to oppose the above proposal to build 25 houses, as follows :

1) Swainsthorpe is a small village with no facilites i.e. no shop, post office or school.

2) It is a huge site compared to the rest of the village, and would greatly increase the size of the village.

3) Access on the A140 would be very dangerous as it is already a fast and busy road. If access was through Church View, it would be onto an S bend in the centre of the village, near a railway level crossing and with the church opposite. The school buses turn around on this bend, which would make it more difficult for them.

4)Church Road is used by Mulbarton and other villages around as a rat run. In peak times it is very busy, with motorists often exceeding the speed limit.

5) The close proximity to the level crossing would add to the flow of traffic.

6) Another piece of Green Belt land is disappearing, not to mention the growing of vegetables.

7) It is already very time consuming trying to turn onto the A140. With more houses in the village, 25 houses plus at least two cars each, adding to the tailback, and all the cars from Mulbarton, it will be horrendous trying to get to work and school at peak times.

This development is too large for a village like Swainsthorpe with very limited amenities. Access to and from Swainsthorpe via the A140 is already hazardous due to poor visibility and so the addition of 25 dwellings would only add to the issues. We should retain the agricultural land surrounding this quiet village.

Three proposals have been submitted for the village of Swainsthorpe Norfolk.NR14 8PH. by Ben Burgess & Nicholas Gowing.
I have lived here for 35 years & I am against these developments. There is already Increased traffic through our village & difficult to to get on the A140 because of so many more vehicles. Our village is already a cut through for vehicles from Mulbarton.
.These men already think it is a done deal with the Council , surely the people of Swainsthorpe who pay their taxes & are 98% against these plans mean something.

I object to this proposal as access to the A140 is already problematic with many road accidents and long delays this would increase dramatically.
The wildlife will have an adverse affect to which there is no going back.

Swainsthorpe is a lovely village surrounded by lots of greenery and fields. Having the extra houses will destroy the green fields which make Swainsthorpe such a beautiful village and will destroy the peace that currently exists in the village. The village cannot cope with 25 more houses, not the roads or the services. There are plenty of other places to build around Norwich which already have new estates and the required infrastructure so why not build additional housing there instead of ruining a lovely tranquil village. Furthermore, the new houses will not be in keeping with the small, rural village that is Swainsthorpe.

I strongly object.

This proposal would significantly change the character of the village and increase the volume of traffic accessing the A140, which is already an extremely unpleasant and potentially dangerous exercise. Other than the church the village has no amenities and therefore I feel that any additional housing projects would be more appropriate in areas where there is good existing amenity/infrastructure.

The proposed development is too large for a village of this size which has no support amenities. It will add considerably to the already overused traffic on church road in particular the A140 junction which will cause major problems where traffic will be turning right into church road from the norwich direction, the existing turn lane being often full of turning traffic causing stoppage of traffic on the A140.The proposed access to the site is onto a blind corner and narrow roadway this in itself will cause ongoing difficulties. this proposal is too big for the village.

Swainsthorpe is identified as a 'another' village with no services and the housing development proposed would have a considerable impact on the integrity of this small village. Access via Church View would be on a blind bend and this has already been an area where several near misses have occurred as vehicles negotiate the corner.

Traffic through Swainsthorpe is already excessive in amount and speed. Increased traffic joining Church Rd from Church View will exacerbate the problem. The junction of Church Rd, A140 and access road to Swainsthorpe Hall, Hall Farm and cottages is already hazardous before any increase in traffic in Swainsthorpe.
The view across agricultural land to the village and church should be maintained.
The current infrastructure in the village is insufficient for further development