Publication

Object

Representation ID: 24316

Received: 22/03/2021

Respondent: M Scott Properties Ltd

Agent: Strutt & Parker

Legally compliant? Yes

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? Yes

We consider that the land East of Shelfanger Road and West of Heywood Road, Diss (GNLP0250/0342/0291) should be reinstated as an allocation within the Plan, given it was a previously preferred allocation that there is no sound reason or evidence to justify its
exclusion from the Plan at this stage. The Site is deliverable, suitable, and achievable and
will deliver much needed new housing in a sustainable location in Diss, along with other associated community benefits including a new link road to address current traffic problems and land for the expansion of Diss Cemetery.

It is considered that the failure of the Plan to allocate sites in Diss, and the decision to follow an amended strategy to devolve new allocations to meet the majority of the strategic new housing requirement to the Neighbourhood Plan, cannot be considered sound. This
strategy is not consistent with Policy 1, Policy 7 or Policy 7.2 of the Plan which do not make any reference to such an approach, nor do they make any contingency in the event that such deferred allocations are not forthcoming. This is not an approach being followed for other Designated Neighbourhood Plan Areas and there is no justification for the decision for site GNLP0102 to remain as an allocation within the Plan, to the exclusion of
GNLP0250/0342/0291. This is particularly given site GNLP0102 has not been demonstrated to be deliverable, is not supported at the local level and could come forward irrespective of a receiving an allocation with the Plan, or Neighbourhood Plan. We therefore consider the Pre-Submission Draft Plan to be unsound in respect of the lack of new allocations in Diss, and as such, it cannot be considered positively prepared, justified,
effective or consistent with national policy.

Please see accompanying Report and supporting information.