South Norfolk Village Clusters Housing Allocations Plan (Reg. 18 Draft)

Object

Representation ID: 1659

Received: 30/07/2021

Respondent: Wortwell Parish Council

The site is in the very heart of the village and ten houses would be an overdevelopment of a site that is currently used as the main access for walkers, via a public footpath, between the centre of the village and the lakeside development and further rural walks beyond this field that in turn form part of a circuit back up Mill Lane to the Bell Inn.

This is a very beautiful meadow that allows for much habitat including nesting owls and bats and other wildlife something the landowner himself has promoted many times.

While the plan does suggest a ‘small’ increase from 5 to 10 In reality this is a doubling by 100% of the previously agreed development.

This decision will create an estate in the centre of the oldest part of the village and we know from the research above that it will also create a need for at least 20 cars being parked and the attending increase in traffic on a busy crossroads and blind bend.

Coupled with the need for turning space and with access directly onto a very short stretch of road between the main crossroads and a right hand bend in the road, which itself links to the aforementioned lane much used by walkers, will be problematic at best and dangerous at worse.

We have accepted that 5 was manageable and would tolerate it increasing by one further building to 6 but that we believe is the limit that such a site should allow.

To allow a small housing estate of 10 houses in the heart of the oldest part of the village would bring a dominance completely out of character with the rest of the area. It should be noted that SNDC has already rejected another site proposing four bungalows as looking too much like forming an estate.

The land has not itself flooded recently although it does get very wet and muddy during the winter months. However, the flooding in December of Redenhall Road, High Road, Low Road, the marshes and the field opposite this site does cause concern if this is even suitable at all for building land. We are aware that the land is very ‘soft’ and low lying, close to the water table. It may require a great deal of work to make the land stable enough for just five dwellings and the road infrastructure required. Ten would surely compromise the integrity of the land even further.

There is a stream running alongside the land which does run very fast in the winter. We have concerns that this stream would become polluted and compromised by such an extensive construction operation.

Comment

Representation ID: 1660

Received: 30/07/2021

Respondent: Wortwell Parish Council

SN4063- The provision of six homes on this site would meet the needs of a style of housing for young growing families, close to the village playing fields and the community centre and with access to the Woods and picnic areas the other side of the main road. This could provide the opportunity for those ‘stuck’ in tiny cottages to spread their wings and at the same time release smaller starter cottage houses to young people joining the housing ladder. We support this as a preferred site.

Comment

Representation ID: 1661

Received: 30/07/2021

Respondent: Wortwell Parish Council

SITE 2121 REVA - We prefer this site for development as it is intended to provide bungalow, single story dwellings in a peaceful part of the village with amazing views of both the Church and the rural landscape beyond. With only four dwellings being added it would not, as suggested, be forming an estate but rather a small cul de sac of dwellings which would be very attractive to the older residents of the village looking to downsize or to move to single level living. With plenty of room to build accessible pathways, road access and internal accessibility, these will fit the needs of our village perfectly. We also would not want to see any further development on this site but feel that three or four bungalows would be highly desirable as part of our overall village plan.

We would like the landowners offer of four bungalows sited on this piece of land to be accepted as part of the overall solution to the village housing needs, projected to 2034

Comment

Representation ID: 1662

Received: 30/07/2021

Respondent: Wortwell Parish Council

SN2006SL
The Parish Council and our Local District Councillor have been supporting this ‘infill’ build for some time. It is true that the land sits within a River Valley setting. The entire village of Wortwell sits within a River Valley setting. Development of this site would not lose or detract in any sense from the meadows opposite and would be an ideal place for two or three starter homes to be built in a similar style to the existing cottages.

Standing, as the land does, opposite the main bus stop and school pick up point, close to the main A143 and elevated high enough to never be a risk to flooding; this land is currently rough ground, with very little to favour it as it is used as an overflow for skips and rubbish and is in no way seen as a ‘beauty spot’. However to own and live in a property with the amazing views across the meadows and river the other side of the road would be a stunning place to live. Suitable for people wanting to move into a rural location but still wanting easy access to main road links to Norwich, Ipswich and beyond it is an ideal location for infill.
We would like you to reconsider the rejection of this site as it forms the final piece of a jigsaw for the planning needs of this village.