GNLP2106

Taverham Road is narrow and already congested during peak times at the Fakenham Road junction, and increased traffic use will only compound the problem.
The south of the site borders the river Wensum and Costessey Lane which often floods and becomes unpassable. Developing the site will cause additional surface water run-off, which will in turn make matters worse.
The Wensum Valley is an area of natural beauty and development adjoining the river valley should be discouraged.

Very concerned about potential increase in traffic on Taverham Road, causing risks especially to school pupils including damaging additional air pollution. Crossing this road already dangerous due to high volume of traffic pre and post school and rush 'hour'. Would add to pressures on local surgery and dentists . Area close to Costessey Lane frequently affected by flooding. Proposed dwellings would further reduce flood plain .

Any development here would add to an already congested road system. At peak time there is a significant que of traffic down Taverham Road, this causes some traffic to use Station Road as a cut through causing a danger to pedestrians and cyclists, further traffic from additional housing would add to this problem.

The site has the potential to cause contamination to flow into the river Wensum and a SUDS scheme would be unsustainable.

We have registered our objection online to GNLP2106 and herewith submit the reasons for this decision

1. Extra traffic due to access on Taverham Road - this will compound the problem we already have getting onto the Drayton/Fakenham Road due to the volume of traffic.
2. We are already experiencing increased volume of traffic due to the NDR not joining with the Southern ByPass and Taverham Road being used as a cut through.
3. We believe that GNLP2106 and further GNLP projects in this area will devalue the existing properties on Taverham Road.
4. Taking into account the redevelopment of the Royal Norwich Golf Course where a vast number of houses will be built, we have seen no improvements to the road network having or being done e.g. widening of roads/dual carriageway. It is already a problem in that traffic is quite regularly backed up to Drayton from Middleton's Lane traffic lights and the houses are not yet even finished, therefore, further GNLP projects in the aea will only compound this and cause gridlocks
5. We also ask how the local infrastructure/facilities will be able to cope when they are already struggling, we refer to schools, doctors, sensitive environment areas such as the Wensum Valley and the woods that back onto houses on the Taverham Road

This road is barely able to cope with existing traffic, is used as rat run, foot paths inadequate on the south side adjacent to this proposal. Majority of personnel using this road into Norwich are bottle necked at junction to Fakenham road, allowing another significant number of vehicles is unacceptable unless existing infrastructure is enhanced. Evidence of improvement, is easy to view, lack of at the new Persimmon development at Norwich golf club.
With buses minimum 15 minute intervals, little pull off lay-bys in conjunction with greater number of vehicles using said road(s) presents significant - safety risks, greater congestion with associated delays.

This site should not be taken forward. The access is unacceptable, with little / no prospects of making it wider/safer. The amount of traffic such a proposal would generate, will create major problems leading onto the Fakenham Road, which is already heavily congested especially at peak times. Drayton already has major flooding problems (especially being in a valley) and this proposed development (even with on-site and/or off-site attenuation), will create far more flooding problems for the village. The site is within an area of protected land, not least for its wildlife and special species and must be retained for such.

Living adjacent to the southern boundary for 25 yrs we categorically state the site has surface water. Assumption is also of underground water flow as our sole water supply is a natural spring located 7 metres from the boundary. Ground level drops sharply and continue to do so to the bottom of the Wensum Valley. Increased flooding is of major concern to both our property and Costessey Lane. We fully endorse previous comments regarding potential contamination and unsustainable attenuation / SUDS
The site clearly defines and separates areas of residential and countryside. It is in close proximity to SSSI and SAC and acts as a buffer for wildlife. Deer, Fox, Game-bird, rabbits and other species use the site. Bats, Barn Owl and Kestrels are seen on and around the site. Outside Settlement Boundary. Any development / artificial lighting would unduly threaten wildlife and the landscape as a whole. Development here would mean a loss of important habitat and species from the area forever. There are more suitable sites that would not have this devastating impact.

Traffic along Taverham Road has steadily increased. The road at the proposed exit of this extensive development is narrow and dangerous for both drivers, cyclists and pedestrians (narrow footpath on only one side). At certain times there is great difficulty getting on to the A1067 at the junction in Drayton. Any development would also affect water drainage and pollution down to the Wensum valley and impact on a valuable wildlife site.

It seems inconceivable that a development of 70 dwellings is envisaged for this site. Vehicular exit onto the narrow Taverham road, already over busy with bus, trade, school, and delivery traffic (an industrial estate is nearby) would put an intolerable burden on the traffic system, not only with regard to safety but especially on the junction at the Fakenham road. Currently, drivers of joining traffic require bravado and skill in their timing. Pedestrians accessing the shops in Drayton are not without risk, since the widths of road and footpath are minimal regarding safety considerations. The suggestion that the possible car traffic from 70 dwellings can effectively exit through one entrance achieved by demolishing property no. 55 is untenable and an exit onto Costessey Lane is clearly a non-starter (see 7a - Site Access with professional assessment of Richard Jackson Ltd). It is a narrow twisting road completely unsuited to other than intermittent traffic. The close proximity to the Wensum flood plain - and natural habitat sites of importance again rules out a southern exit to the site.

Please find below comments from Taverham Parish Council's Planning Meeting on the 12th November 2018:

Adjoining Fakenham Road - Site Reference GNLP2129. It was felt that this plot was unsuitable for residential use. J Latchford proposed, seconded by Maria Temple to object to this site - Unanimous
High Breck Farm - Site Reference GNLP2047. It was felt that this plot could accommodate 5 dwellings - Unanimous
East of Fir Covert Road - Site Reference GNLP2050. It was felt that this plot could accommodate a residential development - Unanimous
151 Taverham Road - Site Reference GNLP2051. Representations had been made by TRAG opposing the development of this site. This site is in the Wensum Valley, a Special Area of Conservation and SSSI. It was commented the road network couldn't sustain this number of houses. J Latchford proposed, seconded by J Pennells to object to this site - Unanimous

South of Taverham Road - Site Reference GNLP2106. It was felt that this plot was unsuitable for residential use, similar reasons as for GNLP2051 - J Latchford proposed, seconded by J Pennells to object to this site - Unanimous

Not appropriate site for further development where access will be onto an already very busy, narrow road. Only a footpath on one side of road and development would present further danger to pedestrians.
Traffic already backs up on Taverham Road at junction with Drayton High Road causing environmental issues, eg exhaust pollution.
Site is known as a habitat for barn and tawny owls as well as other wildlife.
Site is liable to flooding.

From what we can determine the plan shows the access for 70 dwellings directly onto the Taverham Road & not Costessey Lane. If that is the case we object on the basis that the significantly increased vehicular traffic onto the already busy & narrow Taverham Road & the extremely narrow pathway would be hazardous for road uses & pedestrians.

Following receipt of your information regarding the proposed development to land adjacent to Taverham Rd, your reference GNLP2106. I would like to voice my concerns:

As a long term local resident that has enjoyed the beautiful neighbourhood and surrounding countryside of the Wensum Valley, It is disappointing to see the proposed development of arable land on the North side of the Wensum Valley.
I understand the need for housing and not opposed to development. Many new developments have been built In the region over the years, Thorpe Marriott and Beech Avenue have been great examples. These have increased the periphery of the local parishes and haven't detracted from the appeal of established communities.
I am however opposed to random development of small pockets of land, filling in small green areas in established neighbourhoods.
This has occurred in several locations throughout Taverham and is spoiling the character of the region.
The site on Taverham Rd would be another prime example of this.
The road is already choked at times with a significant pinch point at the Orchard bank junction. Narrow footpaths pose a high risk to pedestrians and at peak times this can result in vehicles frightening close to footpath users.
The volume of traffic at the Taverham Rd -A1067 junction in Drayton at peak times is substantial.
The plot of land, GNLP2106, has been identified as a potential development for financial gain by the land owner without any consideration for the surrounding neighbourhood, supporting infrastructure and natural beauty of the region.
Once development in the Wensum Valley starts it will signal the green light to small pockets of over populated developments by landowners, incentivised by the quick and easy financial rewards.
I ask you to look carefully at this proposal and to try and understand the misgivings of local residents. We can only trust that you will identify more suitable areas for development, both in keeping with, and sympathetic to the local area.

Although predominantly in the parish of Taverham this site would have a detrimental impact on Drayton too.
The additional vehicles movements 70 dwellings would generate on Taverham Road and potentially on the Fakenham Road is unacceptable.
The slope of the land towards the River Wensum would cause serious surface water flooding issues on Costessey Lane and beyond.The proximity to County Wildlife and Special Scientific Sites means this location should not be considered for housing development.

The site is unsuitable for building on practical and aesthetic grounds. The proximity to the river would alter the current ecology and unless major changes to infrastructure are made to accommodate extra traffic and school age children in the area it is not viable.

My family are residents living within close proximity of the proposed Taverham/Drayton development of seventy dwellings - GNLP2106.

We are raising an objection to this large development on the following grounds: There is insufficient infrastructure around the proposed site. The Taverham Road cannot sufficiently carry even more traffic than it currently manages. There are many times when motor vehicles queue back from the Taverham road/A1067 junction causing long hold-ups and frustrating delays. Another seventy dwellings with a possibility of two vehicles per household will create too much congestion all around this development. The entrance to the proposed development seems inadequate for seventy dwellings. This plan can only create more problems around the area of Drayton and Taverham.

It would seem to us that there are far more suitable sites close to the newly constructed northern bypass which could far better support a new development of this kind. With more space available for all the necessary facilities such as shops, medical surgery, park for the children etc. a better quality of life would be preserved for all.

We are disappointed to learn of the prepared plan for 70 dwellings in the field at bottom of our garden. It has always been considered part of the Wensum Valley conservation area, as far as we know. Proposals for building developments on the other field (GNLP0270) have been sent several times over many years but have been turned down. Again conservation area was quoted along with the fact that Taverham road is not terribly wide and has only a 'one-side' pavement. The width is sometimes inadequate. Traffic has increased and no way could it cope with lots of extra vehicles, particularly initially heavy traffic. The same goes for Costessey Lane.

I am writing to object to all of the above, the shear volume of houses being proposed south of Taverham Road is unsustainable for the area with traffic already at a stand still in peak times at the junction of Fakenham Road and difficulty in passing the school with a long line of parked cars dropping of and then picking up children after school, in parts the road is very narrow and often large vehicles have to go onto footpath to pass other road users. Are our doctors, dentist and schools going to be able to cope with the influx of this amount of extra people in the village of Taverham and Drayton, I don't think so.
Joint Nature Conservation Committee which is a statutory adviser to UK Government has designated the River Wensum a Special Area of Conservation it would be a great shame to loose this area forever.

I sincerely hope that common sense will prevail and these application will fail.

This development will encroach on land which we believe is green belt land and will open the flood gates to even more development in what can only be described as gross, excessive over development in Drayton and surrounding areas.

Secondly, Taverham Road is unable to sustain anymore traffic as the road has become dangerous and a rat run for all types of traffic. There is a heavy volume of traffic and the pollution levels are very high with the smell of diesel and petrol fumes particularly high where cars wait to get onto the Fakenham Road junction this is intolerable for children walking to and from school and residents.

There is a danger of pedestrians while they walk on the narrow pavements of the Taverham road, itself with cars mounting pavements to avoid buses and lorries coming the other way. The road is simply not able to come with the traffic it has now. The road (Taverham Road) has been subject to numerous maintenance projects due to fractured gas and water pipes due to traffic use which is very heavy.

Thirdly, the infrastructure e.g. doctors surgery, school, pharmacies and police are overwhelmed due to the increase in population with no provision to upgrade these services in our area if more houses were to be approved.

With regard to the above notice, we are totally against any further development of housing projects exiting onto Taverham Road.

Taverham Road is not suitable for even more large amounts of traffic, the queueing of vehicles already exist at times onto the Fakenham Road in the centre of Drayton village.

On the Wensum side of the proposed development any contamination will find its way down to the river valley which will help to destroy vegetation and all of the wildlife in this area.

70 two storey dwelling on this site would be a blot on the landscape. The much admired and photographed view from Marriott's Way across the valley would be ruined. Existing cottages nestled in the valley were built in the 1700s and are not detrimental to the view. These cottages would not as suggested screen the proposed development. They are approximately 2 metres below the site level at approximately 7 metres from its southern boundary. Every effort to support protection of this picturesque valley from development should be made if not for us and the existing wildlife then for future generations.

I strongly object to this proposed development. It would create a precedent for back buiding,undermine the enviromentally sensitive area close to the river wensum and place additional strain and conjestion on the already over burdened local roads and the local infrastructure generally.

I am responding to the above planning proposal to develop 70 homes on the above site to the rear of Taverham Road and Costessey Lane.

I wish to register the strongest possible objection to this proposal on several grounds, the most important of which is the unacceptable and adverse effects of the inevitable volumes of traffic which would be generated. Access onto Taverham Road is completely impractical given the dimensions of the carriageway, and the inadequate width of the pavements - where they exist. There would also be a very significant increase in congestion at the Drayton end of the road, resulting in unacceptable delays. Access onto Costessey Lane would, if anything, be even worse.

There would also be a significant loss of amenity for existing residents of Taverham Road, not to mention the inevitable spoiling of what is at present an exceptionally beautiful landscape leading down to the Wensum and beyond, part of which is a Conservation Area. There are also, of course, the issues arising from the flood plain.

As the neighbour I object to this proposal as already stated by other residents but would also like to add that there is a right of way to the rear of all seven properties and believe access to the site will be rejected by highways as there's not enough visual splay on to taverham road .If this site is granted permission then any other field bordering the wensum could also be developed ,I hope common sense prevails and this site is rejected.

The additional pressure placed upon Taverham Road in putting potentially another 140 cars going up and down the road would be unacceptable. There is already considerable pressure to put traffic lights in at the Fakenham Road/Drayton end to cope with the existing traffic on the road at peak times. Entrance to and from the site should be considered away from the village along Costessey Road, if that could be safely achieved.
The proposed site is adjacent to the only major piece of woodland in the area, that provides shelter and supports a considerable number of species that add to the character and enjoyment of the surrounding land. Installing the infrastructure needed for such a site would be immediately ecologically disruptive and the ongoing light and sound pollution could be fatal to the ecology. A significant long-term study should be completed first.
GNLP0337 and GNLP0419 are considerably better positioned to not infringe areas of sites of specific scientific interest or special areas of conservation. They have close access to road networks that permit swift transport for local and longer journeys. They are also large enough to permit the development of new schools, shops and other services (such as dentists and doctor's surgeries), which are all over-subscribed in Taverham at present. These are areas which are more conducive to the sustainable development of the local area.

Taverham road is narrow - increase in traffic will be very hazardous and risky for our elderly residents and young school children who have no alternative routes to use.

Detrimental effects on the natural Ecology of the area and nearby Wensum valley in which it is situated. This area is of significant scientific interest and importance to the whole country.

Over stretched Local services -GP/Dental services, schools, care-homes-will be negatively impacted further.

Adverse effects of flooding/runoff water-will increase.
The natural beauty of the area will be destroyed.

I am responding to the above planning proposal to develop 70 homes on the above site to the rear of Taverham Road and Costessey Lane.
I wish to register the strongest possible objection to this proposal on several grounds, the most important of which is the unacceptable and adverse effects of the inevitable volumes of traffic which would be generated. Access onto Taverham Road is completely impractical given the dimensions of the carriageway, and the inadequate width of the pavements -where they exist. There would also be a very significant increase in congestion at the Drayton end of the road, resulting in unacceptable delays. Access onto Costessey Lane would, if anything, be even worse.
There would also be a significant loss of amenity for existing residents of Taverham Road, not to mention the inevitable spoiling of what is at present an exceptionally beautiful landscape leading down to the Wensum and beyond, part of which is a Conservation Area. There are also, of course, the issues arising from the flood plain.

Strongly object . Ecologically- highly-unsuitable site. Detrimental and burdensome to immediate surroundings and facilities. Nature- rich SSSI Wensum River and bird wetland protected ,designated environment AT RISK). Traffic implications/congestion on The street, Costessey and Taverham Road considerable. Irreversible fusion and damaging changes to remaining parish character of Taverham/Drayton boundary.Despite outdated perceptions, local facilities/ services are SATURATED .Don't spoil this sensitive area. Look at planning / building good starter homes and social housing on 'offered' Thorpe Marriott site. BE ALARMED at implications of allowing creeping development on south side of Taverham Road(farmland to Mack's Lane)e.g See? Copycat site offered GNLP2051.THINK SUSTAINABILITY!!!

I strongly object to another 70 houses being built on this site because access to and from Taverham Road will be extremely hazardous, exacerbating the major safety issues that already exist on this narrow, busy thoroughfare. The possibility of an extra 140+ cars trying to join the main Fakenham Road from Taverham Road is truly horrifying. The plans would also involve moving the current settlement boundary and building on established agricultural land, which will set a precedent for further back-filling on land that is already prone to flooding, and which contributes positively to the pleasant, semi-rural appeal of Taverham.

Developing this site would cause serious issues with road safety, increased traffic volume, damage to local ecology/biodiversity and the loss of long-established agricultural land. Moving the current settlement boundary would set a dangerous precedent for further development behind the existing properties along Taverham Road, and also lead to an increase in the surface water problems that already occur on a regular basis. There are far more suitable sites on offer which are supported by the Parish Council and local people, and which would avoid spoiling yet another of Taverham's green and pleasant areas.