A developer will not be able to easily comply with these requirements, due to the plot layout. In order to get a minimum of twelve dwellings, they'd either have to be terraced, or grouped as semi-detached, which is completely at odds with the existing housing layout

Policy needs to refer to the need for a LVIA given the LVA assessment.

LVA notes that the site is surrounded on three sides by the Broads Authority Area.
Significant landscape concern raised due to potential for views out across the valley being adversely affected.
Site-specific mitigation measures identified in LVA are supported.

Seek a site nearer to facilities and services.

Building new houses on first class agricultural land away from all facilities and services is not likely bring any kudos for S.N.C.
As already discerned distance to nearest Primary School is over 5 kms with no public transport existing. All other important services, Secondary School, Local Healthcare, Retail services are over 10 kms from this site. Peak time Public Transport does not exist so there would have to be many more car journeys along Staithe Road, a narrow rural road without pedestrian footways much to the detriment of our climate change precautions.

We support this allocation for 12 dwellings in a sustainable rural location. It can be delivered in line with the policy wording below and, subject to viability, will deliver much-needed affordable housing for local people. The village is outside the Nutrient Neutrality catchment, meaning this allocation is deliverable in the short term and could compensate for under-delivery elsewhere in the District, much of which is within the catchment.

Modify policy text to read:

Early engagement with Anglian Water regarding connecting to the local water recycling network.

See attached document.

We particularly welcome the clear and robust policy wording with respect to hedgerows/trees in Policy VC ROC: ‘The developer of the site will be required to ensure: ‘Protection of the trees and hedges on the site boundaries…’ and Policy VC LMI: ‘Protection and enhancement of the ecological/biodiversity features of the site, including the established trees, hedgerows…’

We recommend that similar policy wording is applied to the policies listed below to ensure that the Local Plan consistently provides robust protection for all hedgerows/trees on these allocated sites, as appropriate. Where removal of any part of a hedgerow or a tree/s is absolutely unavoidable, we recommend that policy wording should also include reference to mitigation measures and ideally reflect the updated biodiversity duty required in the 2021 Environment Act to have regard to the enhancement of biodiversity.

VC BB1 (Barnham Broom), VC BRE1 (Bressingham), VC HAL2 (Hales and Heckingham), VC SWA2 (Swardeston), VC NEE1 (Needham), VC WOR2 (Wortwell), VC NEW2 (Newton Flotman), VC SPO3 (Spooner Row), VC TAS1 (Tasburgh), VC BUR1 (Burgh St Peter), VC WIN1 (Winfarthing)
Hedgerows (Priority Habitat)

Local Authorities have a duty under the NERC Act 2006 and the Environment Act 2021 to have regard to the conservation and enhancement of Priority Habitats in their decision making. Hedgerows are listed as a Priority Habitat under the requirements of section 41 of the NERC Act.
Also of relevance is: National Planning Policy Framework, (NPPF), 179: ‘-To protect and enhance biodiversity and geodiversity, plans should…62 b) promote the conservation, restoration and enhancement of priority habitats, ecological networks and the protection and recovery of priority species; and identify and pursue opportunities for securing measurable net gains for biodiversity.’

Trees
Trees are given some protection in legislation, for example, from the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). However, we strongly recommend that the Local Plan provides fuller, more detailed and comprehensive protection as described above.
National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), 131: Trees make an important contribution to the character and quality of urban environments, and can also help mitigate and adapt to climate change. Planning policies and decisions should ensure that……. appropriate measures are in place to secure the long-term maintenance of newly-planted trees, and that existing trees are retained wherever possible.