Publication

We would like to see any revised plans for this strategically important site and the allocation of 4,000 new homes including the 1320 affordable homes . If this development is now under threat where are these house going to be built? North Rackheath is one of the largest allocations for development in the current local plan and it has been stalled for around 10 years as it hasn't been financially viable for the developers to commit to developing the site. BDC policy includes a target for 33pc affordable housing but also states that the proportion of affordable housing sought may be reduced where it is shown through a viability study that this target cannot be met.

The village of Rackheath is part of BDC “growth triangle”. In 2009 it was identified as one of a dozen proposed sites to create new carbon-neutral eco-communities. The government subsequently withdrew this particular programme, but in 2016 a new Masterplan was published. The interested parties consisted of Manor Farm, Barratt Homes and BDC. Core features of the development included up to 4000 new homes, three new schools, an employment area, waste recycling, recreation grounds and a health and social care facility. We believe that the interested parties are no longer interested making this element of the planned housing supply redundant.

I would like this plan to be more transparent and acknowledge the impact these plans will have on those communities that may sit outside of the designated growth area but are still reliant on the same services and infrastructure.

It is a little misleading to ignore the population of Salhouse whilst including Wroxham. Salhouse sits between Rackheath and Wroxham and although outside of the growth area it will nevertheless be impacted by these plans and the urban sprawl eastwards. The Salhouse population is estimated to be 1,016 and they use the same infrastructure and facilities as the residents in the growth area. Indeed the plans for Rackheath North and development centred on the old Rackheath airfield, dissected by Muck Lane, abuts right up to the Station Road conurbation that was once part of Rackheath but is now in Salhouse.

I would like to see a cross referencing to the Norfolk Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) and in particular the views of Healthwatch.

I find this plan not sound as it does not refer, in this Health and Wellbeing section to the Norfolk Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) which is the standard tool when predicting future health needs and trends in order to inform on housing and other factors.

I would like to see a link to the Norfolk and Waveney Health Care Partnership and thier plans, with an aging population, to sustain thier Enhanced Health in Care Homes programme.

The post Covid NHS will look very different from now and when these plans were developed. The integration across both health and social services plus the increasing dependency on the voluntary sector. The plans for Primary Care Networks are particularly relevant for these plans as the primary care environment divides into localities with the Norwich and North Norfolk localities mostly impacted with these plans. I'm not convinced that the planned health facilities will be funded correctly.

There needs to be a plan as to where and when these new schools and further educational establishments will be built and who will fund them.

This plan states that the GNLP will need to make provision for additional schools and school places to serve growth and then is silent on the plans to achieve this. The questionable Rackheath North development has included plans for one new secondary school and two new primary schools. If this development does not go ahead or is changed significantly then where will these schools be located. The current school in Rackheath is over subscribed.

I would like to see the modelling on the impact the proposed London to 90 programme will have on the housing needs and where the plans for the growth on the Bittern Line including any new stations/halts is factored in.

These plan are silent on the London in 90 initiative and the impact this could have on the inward movement of people to Norwich who may wish to commute into London on a regular basis thus increasing pressures on local roads and car parking in and around Norwich mainline station. The Bittern line does not always stop at Salhouse and the original growth plans included a new rail halt at Rackheath which doesn't seem to get a mention here.

I would like to see what lessons learnt have been applied to from these exemplar homes and how planners are going to insist of carbon neutral housing whilst still delivering an economical model making it attractive to developers.

BDC commissioned the exemplar houses in Trinity Close, Rackheath which were designed to the highest sustainability level. They have however proved to be an economic disaster with the extra greening increasing the average build cost considerably. In addition local residents complained of excessive heat in the summer, issues with air source heat pumps and the failure of grey water flushing.

Local residents in the North East Growth area will know that the current flooding causes chaos after a period of heavy rain as the natural environment continues to be covered in tarmac prevent natural drainage and causing sever rain water run off. I would like to see some acknowledgement of this and confirmation of the use of SuDS in these plans. I would also like to see some affirmation fro the NFU, or another similar professional body, that the needs for farmers have been taken into consideration.

I see no mention of the use of sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) to provide an alternative to the direct channelling of surface water through networks of pipes and sewers to nearby watercourses. Local landowners and farmers are concerned about the water stress that large developments will cause as they struggle to provide water for thier agricultural crops in competition with homeowner domestic needs.