The site needs to maintain the inherent rural character of the village, avoiding over-development and urbanisation. Landscaping alone cannot offset the requirement to open views which are characteristic to this rural village location.

This section completely understates the impact of the site and is in absolute conflict with Section 16.2 which states "The village is set in the Waveney Valley and adjacent to the Broads, and open views out from the village make an important contribution to its rural character." Maitaining the rural character of the village and avoiding urbanisation should be at the heart of any strategy for Village Clusters. Development of this site would have a permanent devastating impact on the rural outlook to the south and southwest of the village,

The plans to be cancelled.

The effects of the proposed developments will be abhorrent, depriving the local community of an important public footpath that provides a route to the local river and an enjoyable walk promoting exercise and mental well being. This development will also damage the views of the village and existing residents views will suffer and it will not be inkeeping with the villages characteristics..

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.

The Village Clusters Plan state that 'The village is set in the Waveney Valley and adjacent to the Broads, and open views out from the village make an important contribution to its rural character...'. This statement confirms the importance of the open views out from the village in contributing to and maintaining its rural character. Allocation of the Gillingham Site (VC GIL 1) for development is in clear conflict with this statement, as views out of the two main parts of the village into open countryside to the south and south-west will be irrevocably harmed.
The Sustainability Appraisal Report prepared by AECOM and provided in support of the Village Clusters Plan identifies that Village clusters at the north and east of the District stand out as having the greatest sensitivity in terms of proximity to designated sites of international biodiversity significance associated with the Broads. This includes VC GIL1 which is within 1km of the Broadland Special Protection Area (SPA) and the Broads Special Area of Conservation (SAC). This is considered a distance within which new development could generate additional pressure on designated sites. 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. Development of this site is not in keeping with the objectives of the Village Clusters Plan or the NPPF and, given the increased impacts development at this location would have on protected sites and features compared to other sites, this site should not be allocated for development.

The development is detrimental to the rural nature of the village and in conflict with the Village Clusters Plan. There are no changes which would alter these facts.

The impact of the development on the village would be significant and is in conflict with the Village Clusters Plan. The adverse effects of this development on the village will be considerable with the permanent loss of open countryside views, an important contribution to the rural character of the village, and also well-used, important public footpaths. Currently there are views to the nearby National Park and Waveney Valley, much enjoyed by residents. Landscaping to the recently built estate is poor, existing established hedging/trees were removed resulting in loss of habitat for local wildlife which hasn’t been adequately replaced.

Restrict the development to the north of the available land.

The suggested development will impact negatively on the residents who look out to the south and south west. It will negatively impact on the rural nature of the village and environment.

Reconsideration of additional housing on this scale to Gillingham which has already seen significant development in this area.

Proposed additional housing would deprive residents of the rural aspect, views to open countryside and health benefits currently enjoyed.

This site should be removed as preferred from the Plan given its impact on the landscape and local sensitive sites such as the Broads.
Construction of it will change the character of the village and its setting; the scale and location of it is not well related to the form and character or the existing village (as illustrated in the photographs) all of which are noted as a headline Objective of the Cluster Plan, noted on Page 3 of the SAR.
There are no appropriate landscaping measures which can be delivered as part of new development that will possibly mitigate the change to the local landscape, given its open nature. Any attempts to screen the development will be ineffective given the scale of works, which is illustrated in the photos by the visibility of the recent Daisy Way construction even though some attempts have been made to include planting.

9.11 of your associated SAR notes GIL1 has particular landscape sensitivities:
"GIL1 and GEL1 are nearby allocations (within the same village cluster) that are both sensitive on account of close association with the Broads Authority Area, and also for other reasons including the presence of nearby conservation areas."
The SAR also states "Gillingham is notable as a village associated with Grade 2 quality land" which should be retained.
Natural England raise concerns in response to the GIL1 2022/1993 planning application with 'particular regard to potential significant effects on significant sites'.
Photographs attached show the open rural nature of the site.