The plan should include this land off Chapel Street for the development of 25 new homes and a new village hall together with a new playing field on the adjacent land to the North.

FW Properties have submitted the attached Site Assessment for Land off Chapel Street in Barford (behind the Barford and Wramplingham Village Hall) as we believe the current VCHAP proposals for the village are unsound without the inclusion of this land. Not only have the Parish Council expressed delivery concerns in relation to the draft preferred Site VC BAR1 off Cock Street but also there have been comparatively few new homes built in the village during the last 20 years. Note that the previously allocated site within the current local plan in Church Lane has been removed from the development boundary due to significant delivery constraints. This means that in the event the land off Chapel Street and Site VC BAR1 are both developed for new housing then this would result in a net uplift of potentially 35 new homes (excluding the 10 houses not being developed within the current local plan) which can be accommodated within the village.

FW Properties consider the Land off Chapel Street to be a suitable and deliverable location for new homes within the village. Development in this location, which is close to an established community, would represent sustainable development as defined within the National Planning Policy Framework. With its current provision of services and amenities, including the primary school and village hall, Barford is an appropriate location for growth.

The site is immediately available and its development for 25 new homes is considered to be viable and deliverable. The scheme will provide a mix of dwelling types and sizes to meet local needs.

In addition, the communal benefits to be provided by the new development will include public open space, affordable housing and improved pedestrian connections to the primary school. The existing and very dated village hall would also be replaced with a new facility together with a new playing field on the adjacent land to the North. Vehicular and pedestrian access to this land will be from the existing junction on to Chapel Street.

We believe the site is not subject to any delivery constraints which would prevent its development for new homes. The mature hedging along the boundary of the site will be retained as part of the overall landscaping and screening of the development.

On this basis, FW Properties believe that in order for the VCHAP in Barford to be sound then this land should also be included for allocation within the village. It will then make a valuable contribution to the planned housing growth in South Norfolk in the period up to 2041.