Policy VC SPO1: Land west of Bunwell Road
Support
South Norfolk Village Clusters Housing Allocations Plan (Reg. 19 Pre-submission Draft)
Representation ID: 2599
Received: 01/03/2023
Respondent: KCS Development Ltd
Agent: Barton Willmore
Part of our client’s land off Bunwell Road has been proposed as a draft housing allocation for 15 dwellings (Policy VC SPO1: Land west of Bunwell Road). KCS fully supports the allocation of this site for housing; however it is considered the site could readily accommodate up to 45 homes to meet local needs and the council’s own evidence demonstrates a larger allocation is appropriate. Indeed, a larger allocation can deliver a wider range of benefits to the village such as the provision of more extensive open space, a larger quantum of affordable housing, greater highway improvements (such as footpath links), improvement to the existing watercourse, etc. Such benefits may not be realised from a smaller allocation and, indeed, the council will be aware that smaller planning permissions in the village have not unlocked any particular additional benefits locally. Conversely, a larger development on this site can provide measurable benefits for the community.
Despite the evident settlement sustainability and a need for new housing, the draft plan allocates the site for only 15 dwellings due to perceived townscape (clustering) and flood risk concerns. These representations demonstrate a larger development of 45 units can be delivered without compromising the existing flood zones or townscape.
Object
South Norfolk Village Clusters Housing Allocations Plan (Reg. 19 Pre-submission Draft)
Representation ID: 3188
Received: 01/03/2023
Respondent: Historic England
Legally compliant? Not specified
Sound? No
Duty to co-operate? Not specified
Whilst there are no designated heritage assets within the site, the site lies immediately to the north east of the grade II listed property, The Orchards. Therefore, any development of this site has the potential to impact upon the significance of this heritage asset. We appreciate that the property is well screened by existing landscaping.
We welcome the preparation of the HIA. We welcome paragraph 34.8 and the second bullet point of the policy in relation to strengthening boundary vegetation.
Bullet point 5 states that the HER should be consulted to determine the need for any archaeological surveys prior to development. In our view, some assessment is needed to inform any planning application.
We therefore advise that bullet point 5 should be amended to read, ‘Planning applications should be supported by archaeological assessment including the results of field evaluation where appropriate.’
Amend criterion 5 to read ‘Planning applications should be supported by archaeological assessment including the results of field evaluation where appropriate.’
Support
South Norfolk Village Clusters Housing Allocations Plan (Reg. 19 Pre-submission Draft)
Representation ID: 3237
Received: 08/03/2023
Respondent: Anglian Water Services
As the written justification and WCS suggest, there is limited capacity regarding future connections to our foul drainage network given that the existing WRC only serves a small number of properties in the settlement. The supporting text should emphasise that Spooner Row WRC is constrained due to the small number of properties it serves. Both policies should therefore reference early engagement with Anglian Water to address future connection requirements or the developer to consider alternative on-site treatment subject to the necessary permits.
Modify policy text to include the following criterion for consistency with similar site allocation policies where water recycling centres are particularly constrained:
Early engagement with Anglian Water regarding connecting to the local water recycling network.