Publication

We support the identification of Wymondham as one of the main towns and Wymondham is by far the largest of the five main towns (and twice the size of the next largest Town – Diss). Given the geography of the areas in which the five main towns are located then there is an argument for a greater proportion of the total housing growth to be steered to those five towns. Policy 1 refers to Hethersett (which is not a main town but a key service centre) and Wymondham alongside the Norwich urban area which highlights the importance of these two settlements within the Strategic Growth Area.
At present, the growth strategy is very strongly based on the majority of housing growth (65%) taking place in the Norwich Urban Area. There may be a question as to whether the housing market can support such a high proportion of new housing being concentrated in this area. We note and agree with the total housing provision being a minimum figure of about 49,000 new homes (our emphasis).

Additional explanation is required as to what the Council believes a 'delivery plan' to be and that definition needs to reflect that some applicants are not the actual provider of new dwellings and therefore cannot specify delivery dates or programmes.

Although we support the broad aims of this policy we object to Item iii.
Item iii states that ‘delivery plans are required with planning applications for 100 dwellings plus ….’. It is far from clear what is meant by a ‘delivery plan’ and the requirement ignores the fact that planning applications are sometimes promoted by individuals, landowners, institutions, charities or promotional companies rather than housebuilders. Such applicants sell their land on to housebuilders following the granting of permission and therefore have no control over the precise timing or actual delivery of development and no knowledge of that at the point of making a planning application. While a sequence of events can be defined, actual delivery dates will not be known in these circumstances. The policy wording needs to be reviewed in the light of these circumstances.

Justification to be included and wording tidied up.

Although we support the idea of an element of self-build plots we object to the detail set out in Policy 5.
Firstly, we are unsure as to the basis of the stated threshold of 40 dwelling developments and request that the Plan provides a clear justification for this level.
Secondly, the wording seems confused. The policy objective is to secure, via applications, a proportion of self/custom build plots within planning permissions. The second bullet point refers to such plots not being sold after being marketed for 12 months. That situation is applicable when a developer seeks to change an existing permission (conditions or S106) and so it is not relevant to the policy aim (i.e. applications) and should be reworded.

We support the allocation of land at Browick Interchange, Wymondham as a strategic employment location.

We support the overall approach to housing for the Main Towns as set out under Policy 7.2. Specifically, we agree that, of the 5 Main Towns, Wymondham should accommodate the greatest proportion of the overall housing growth being directed to the Main Towns. Although there is a considerable level of existing deliverable commitments at Wymondham, we do feel that the town is capable of further growth within this plan period given its location within the Cambridge-Norwich corridor, the available transport links, its existing service base and its growing employment sector. We also support the employment allocation in Wymondham although, over the longer term, there may well be a case for additional employment land.

Our clients own Site GNLP0354 (land at Johnson’s Farm) and we support the allocation of this land for residential development in the Submission Plan. The land in question is in single ownership, it is free of physical constraints and it is available immediately. It is highly suitable for residential development and it can be delivered within 5 years thus contributing to the local 5-year housing land supply position. Our clients, the freehold owners of this site, are committed to ensuring its delivery and have promoted this site, and wider landholdings, through previous local plan processes.

We support the policy and the formal allocation of this site. Our clients have recently commissioned more detailed technical work in respect of highways and drainage matters and this has confirmed earlier work and demonstrated the site to be relatively constraint-free. Those assessments have also helped to confirm the capacity of the site at 100+ dwellings. The Council has recognised the merits of this site in developing the proposals which were originally set out in the Regulation 18 Local Plan consultation and those changes are welcomed.

We believe this to be a highly suitable site with scope to develop a high-quality place, including views of Wymondham Abbey from areas of new public open space, within a quality residential environment, overlooking open countryside. Development of the site will also make effective use of already-committed infrastructure in respect of the nearby new London Road roundabout due to be installed this summer we understand.

We have one minor comment on the wording of the policy. In respect of policy criteria 3: ‘Provision of a 2m wide pedestrian/cycle access via Preston Avenue’ – it should be made clear that this is perfectly possible within the site allocation area. Beyond the site, and along Preston Avenue itself, any such provision will be focussed on the existing highway arrangements.




We have enclosed a conceptual master plan which shows a possible approach to the development of this site for around 100 dwellings and the main features of which are as follows:
• Access is via the Old London Road and thence west to the approved roundabout (due to be constructed in Summer 2021 we understand) on the B1172;
• Access to Preston Avenue is limited to pedestrians and cyclists only to protect residential amenity. No access via Abbey Road is proposed;
• Additional footpath access to the south (to Old London Road) is also proposed and footway provision along the whole of the southern boundary would be provided providing easy access into Wymondham and to nearby bus stops;
• The site layout, including areas of new public open space, and the primary access road, have been designed to afford views of Wymondham Abbey;
• Existing boundary features would be retained and enhanced and the concept incorporates soft western and northern edges to provide suitable buffers to the open countryside to the west and north;
• A new balancing pond, for surface water attenuation, would be installed on the lower western boundary where there are connections to existing field drains nearby;
• The site lends itself to a variety of house types and sizes including appropriate affordable housing and self-build plots; and
• Overall, it is considered that a quality ‘sense of place’ can be achieved on this site particularly with the central public open space surrounded by new dwellings.