Object
South Norfolk Village Clusters Housing Allocations Plan (Reg. 19 Pre-submission Draft)
Representation ID: 2450
Received: 24/02/2023
Respondent: Ms Tamsin Watt
Legally compliant? No
Sound? No
Duty to co-operate? No
The Sustainability Appraisal Report provided in support of the Village Clusters Plan identifies that VC GIL1 is within 1km of the Broadland SPA and the Broads SAC, which is considered a distance within which new development could generate additional pressure on designated sites.
The Village Clusters Plan states that '.... open views out from the village make an important contribution to its rural character...'. Allocation of the Gillingham Site (VC GIL 1) for development is in clear conflict with this statement. Views out of the village into open countryside to the south and south-west will be irrevocably harmed.
The Village Clusters Plan identifies that localised impacts of development at the Gillingham Site could be significant. New development at this location could generate additional pressure on designated sites including the Broadland SPA and Broads SAC. The Sustainability Appraisal also identifies VC GIL1 as having potential landscape impacts on the setting and character of the Broads National Park. Reasons given are that that the allocation is large in scale, departs notably from the existing settlement pattern and has clear lines of sight through the National Park, only 200m to the south. These issues can not be solved by landscaping alone and it is noted that the landscaping provided at the existing Fieldgate Reach development is woefully inadequate. Given the increased impacts development at this location would have on designated protected sites and features compared to the other sites assessed, including the site north of The Street, this site should not be allocated for development.