6. Key Service Centre Sites

6.1 Acle is identified as a key service centre under policy 7.3. Acle has a range of services and facilities, including a secondary school, a primary school, a small range of shops, a library and bus/rail links to Norwich and Great Yarmouth. There is also limited local employment and connections to strategic employment options, although the village does have the potential to generate some additional employment by increasing its role as a gateway location to the Broads.

6.2 The Acle Neighbourhood Plan was ‘made’ in February 2015 and covers the period to 2026. The vision for the Acle Neighbourhood Plan is to ensure that Acle continues as a flourishing village and gateway to the Broads that maintains a strong sense of community whilst embracing a sustainable and prosperous future as a place where people choose to live, work and visit.

6.3 As set out in policy 7.3, 240 homes were either been built in Acle between the plan’s base date of 1st April 2018 and 31st March 2022 or were deliverable commitment, having planning permission or being allocated at the latter date. This includes sites allocated as B.AC.2 and B.AC.3 in this plan. There is one further site allocated in this plan (B.AC.1), which provides for 340 new homes and a new link road to the west of the village. This gives a total deliverable housing commitment for Acle in policy 7.3 of 580 homes between 2018-2038.

6.4 All allocations are expected to address standard requirements associated with development. These vary from place to place but are likely to include mitigation for flood risk (as well as SUDs), highways improvements, safeguarding of minerals resources, land remediation, measures to protect the environment, biodiversity, and landscape intrusion.

6.5 The boundaries of this site have been determined due to the need to: avoid substantial areas of flood risk; provide open space to reduce leisure visits to the Broads; enable future expansion of Acle Academy; and provide a link road from Norwich Road to South Walsham Road. The allocation achieves this without being out of scale with the village. ;

6.6 Developers will need to liaise with Acle Academy to ensure the school’s potential future growth needs will not be compromised. The reservoir to the west of the site was built to category A, nonetheless its existence and any associated risks may have implications for the design and layout of the site which need to be considered. The allocation of this site is subject to access via the carried forward Broadland Local Plan allocation B.AC.2 and provision of walking, cycling, horse riding and emergency access via Mill Lane. Works to upgrade the unmade section of Mill Lane will also be required. The site is allocated at a lower gross density as the highway improvements, surface water drainage and open space requirements are significant.

6.7 There is an existing water main in Anglian Water’s ownership within the boundary of the site. This should be taken into account in the design of the development including safeguarding suitable access for maintenance.

6.8 Norfolk Minerals and Waste Core Strategy Policy CS16 applies as this site is partly underlain by safeguarded minerals resources. The benefits of extracting the minerals, if feasible, will be taken into consideration.

6.9 This site was allocated in 2016 as part of the Broadland Local Plan and has permission for 137 homes (20191215). It is expected that development will take place within this local plan’s time-period up to 2038. Housing numbers at the site are included as deliverable commitment in the table in policy 7.3.

6.10 There is an existing water main in Anglia Water’s ownership within the boundary of the site. This should be taken into account in the design of the development including safeguarding suitable access for maintenance.

6.11 This site was allocated in 2016 as part of the Broadland Local Plan and part of the site has planning permission for 30 dwellings (20180941 and 20190241). It is expected that development will take place within this local plan’s time-period up to 2038. Housing numbers at the site are included as deliverable commitment in the table in policy 7.3, providing at least 30 homes. More may be accommodated, subject to an acceptable design and layout being achieved.

6.12 This site was allocated in 2016 as part of the Broadland Local Plan but has not yet been developed. It is expected that development will take place within this local plan’s time-period up to 2038. The site is re-allocated for employment/commercial development.

6.13 Blofield village is defined as a key service centre under policy 7.3. Services include a primary school, shop, doctor’s surgery, village hall, library, and public house. In this chapter, Blofield refers to the village, and deals with sites located south of the A47; sites located north of the A47 have been counted as part of the Blofield Heath and Hemblington village cluster and are covered in the Broadland Village Clusters section of this plan.

6.14 The Blofield Neighbourhood Plan was ‘made’ in July 2016 and covers the period to 2036. The vision for the neighbourhood plan is for the nature and character of the rural village to be preserved and retained, in order to meet various needs of residents, contribute to a high quality of life and provide opportunity and choice. This will be achieved in ways that make effective use of natural resources, enhance the environment, promote social inclusion and supports the local economy.

6.15 As set out in policy 7.3, 274 homes were delivered in Blofield between the plan’s base date of 1st April 2018 and 31st March 2022 or were deliverable commitment, having planning permission or being allocated at the latter date. This includes the site allocated as B.BL.2 in this plan. There is also one newly allocated site (B.BL.1) providing for 15 homes. Further allocations have not been made in this plan due to the level of prior commitment and capacity issues with the A47 roundabout. This gives a total deliverable housing commitment for Blofield in policy 7.3 of 289 homes between 2018-2038.

6.16 All allocations are expected to address standard requirements associated with development. These vary from place to place but are likely to include mitigation for flood risk (as well as SUDs), highways improvements, safeguarding of minerals resources, land remediation, measures to protect the environment, biodiversity, and avoid landscape intrusion.

6.17 The promoter would need to demonstrate the availability of an appropriate visibility splay. Consideration will need to be given to how the site relates to the existing delivery and service yard of Norwich Camping and Leisure. The access and amenity impacts of the adjacent site and the A47 mean this site has been allocated at a lower than usual density.

6.18 This site was allocated in 2016 as part of the Broadland Local Plan but has not yet been developed. It is expected that development will take place within the time-period of this local plan up to 2038. The site has been the subject of several permissions. It is likely to accommodate up to 175 homes reflecting planning permission 20172131; a supermarket and restaurant reflecting permission 20140758; and 2,500 square metres of employment floorspace reflecting permission 20160497.

6.19 Brundall is identified as a key service centre under policy 7.3. Services include a primary school, library, doctors’ surgery, a food store, and public transport.

6.20 The Brundall Neighbourhood Plan was ‘made’ in May 2016 and covers the period to 2026. The vision for the Brundall Neighbourhood Plan is for Brundall to remain a high-quality rural village surrounded by tranquil open countryside and the Broads landscape where people want to live, visit, work and engage with a vibrant and thriving community.

6.21 Postwick with Witton is a small village with a rural character lying predominantly to the south of the Norwich to Brundall railway line and some way to the north of the marshes adjoining the River Yare. The village has few facilities in its own right and the southern part of the parish lies within the Broads Authority Executive Area. The southern quarter of the Broadland Business Park and the Park & Ride are within Postwick parish, but both are relatively inaccessible due to the ‘barrier’ created by the A47/Postwick Hub Interchange.

6.22 As set out in policy 7.3, 337 homes were delivered in Brundall between the plan’s base date of 1st April 2018 and 31st March 2022 or were deliverable commitment, having planning permission or being allocated at the latter date. As there are no newly allocated site in this plan, this gives a total deliverable housing commitment in policy 7.3 for Brundall of 337 homes between 2018-2038. No further housing allocations have been made in this plan due to infrastructure constraints, including access to the A47 at Cucumber Lane.

6.23 There is also considerable housing commitment in Postwick with Witton. These homes are included in policy 7.1 of this plan as they part of the housing commitment in the Growth Triangle Area Action Plan.

6.24 Hethersett is identified as a key service centre under policy 7.3. There are existing allocations and planning permissions in place for development across the north of the village.

6.25 In terms of education facilities, proposals are underway to have two primary schools (one at Queen’s Road and the other on Coachmakers Way); and, to expand the site of the secondary school. This will add to the good range of facilities already available in Hethersett. These include: convenience shops, a post office, a pharmacy, doctor and dentist surgeries, a library and a small business centre, mostly in the vicinity of Queen’s Road/Great Melton Road. More generally in terms of the built form, the old A11 (B1172 Norwich Road) still largely defines the settlement’s built edge to the south. To the east and west of Hethersett, land is controlled by a long-standing strategic gap policy to prevent coalescence with Cringleford to the east and Wymondham to the west.

6.26 As set out in the housing table in policy 7.3, 1,351 homes were delivered in Hethersett between the plan’s base date of 1st April 2018 and 31st March 2022 or are to be built on sites already committed for development at the latter date. This figure includes the strategic residential allocation STR.13, which now includes a 200-home uplift from the previous plan. Work commenced on this site prior the base date of the GNLP, and around a third of the site had been delivered by 2022. The policy 7.3 figure also includes the S.HE.1 allocation for extra care housing (40 units). This gives a total deliverable housing commitment for Hethersett of 1,351 homes between 2018-2038. These allocations are supported by new open space to be provided on allocation S.HE.2.

6.27 All allocations are expected to address standard requirements associated with development. These vary from place to place, but are likely to include mitigation for flood risk (as well as SUDs), highways improvements, safeguarding of minerals resources, land remediation, measures to protect the environment, biodiversity, and avoid landscape intrusion.

6.28 The policy and supporting text for the land north of Hethersett allocation can be found in the strategic sites section at the beginning of the Sites Plan.

6.29 This site was allocated in 2015 as part of the South Norfolk Local Plan but has not yet been developed, as the phase of development of the STR.13 allocation required to access the site has not yet progressed. It is expected that development will take place within this local plan’s time-period to 2038. The boundary and policy requirements of S.HE.1 are unchanged from the original allocation, but the opportunity does exist for revision. At 3.8 hectares S.HE.1 contains more land than is needed for a 40 place ‘extra care’ housing scheme, and subject to the suitability of uses proposed, additional development on S.HE.1 could be acceptable; this could include additional extra care units or care home provision based on the most up to date assessment of need, or if additional care need is not identified, further market and affordable housing.

6.30 Norfolk Minerals and Waste Core Strategy Policy CS16 applies, as this site is underlain by safeguarded minerals resources. The benefits of extracting the minerals, if feasible, will be taken into consideration.

6.31 This site has not been brought forward as part of the current permissions on the STR.13 allocation; however, the increase in numbers on STR.13 and possibly on S.HE.1 mean that additional supporting infrastructure, including green infrastructure, may be necessary. ; The site is therefore allocated in this plan for open space as site S.HE.2. This recognises the public benefit of providing informal open space, and safeguards the archaeological interest relating to the land.

6.32 There is an existing water main in Anglian Water’s ownership within the boundary of the site. This should be taken into account in the design of the open space development including safeguarding suitable access for maintenance.

6.33 Hingham is identified as a key service centre under policy 7.3. Local services within Hingham include a primary school, GP practice, community buildings, employment opportunities and a food shop. Hingham is well served by public transport connecting to Wymondham and Norwich.

6.34 Hingham stands on a low ridge separating the Blackwater valley to the north and the low-lying area of Hall Moor to the south. It has an attractive centre of significant historic and architectural value based around the open areas of The Fairland and Market Place and overlooked by the church which dominates the skyline from distant views. As such, the development boundary excludes the wooded grounds of The Rectory, St Andrews Church and churchyard, the grounds of St Andrews Lodge and The Fairland, as these areas make an important contribution to the character of the town.

6.35 As set out in the housing table in policy 7.3, 18 homes were delivered in Hingham between the base date of 1st April 2018 to 31 March 2022 or were planned to be delivered on committed sites. One site (S.HI.1) is allocated in this plan providing for 80 new homes in the key service centre. This gives a total deliverable housing commitment in policy 7.3 of 98 homes between 2018-2038. There is also an employment allocation (S.HE.2) in the east of the town.

6.36 A Neighbourhood Plan for Hingham is being prepared.

6.37 All allocations are expected to address standard requirements associated with development. These vary from place to place but are likely to include mitigation for flood risk (as well as SUDs), highways improvements, safeguarding of minerals resources, land remediation, measures to protect the environment, biodiversity, and avoid landscape intrusion.

6.38 The site boundary has been drawn to avoid areas of surface water flood risk and the most significant historic environment impacts. The site is well located on the eastern approach into the village adjacent to a site allocated in the last local plan, and will form the gateway to Hingham when approaching from the east.

6.39 The allocation is subject to provision of adequate visibility splays and layout of the development to create an active frontage at B1108. Footways need to be provided at the site frontage, along with a pedestrian crossing refuge in the vicinity of Ironside Way. Consideration should also be given to connectivity with public right of way Hingham F9. The site is allocated at a lower gross density than usual, as the surface water drainage area needs to be significant and the need to mitigate impact on nearby listed buildings and protect TPO trees has been taken into account.

6.40 This site was allocated in 2015 as part of the South Norfolk Local Plan but has not yet been developed. It is expected that development will take place within this local plan’s time-period to 2038. The site is re-allocated for employment/commercial development.

6.41 The Historic Environment Record is to be consulted to determine any need for archaeological surveys prior to development.

6.42 There is an existing surface water sewer in Anglian Water’s ownership within the boundary of the site. This should be taken into account in the design of the development including safeguarding suitable access for maintenance.

6.43 The combined settlement of Loddon and Chedgrave is identified as a key service centre under policy 7.3. There is a range of services including shops, infant, junior and high schools, a medical centre, library, public houses and an industrial estate. The settlement is well served by buses linking to Norwich, Beccles and Lowestoft, and a development of 200 homes north of George Lane, Loddon is currently being progressed.

6.44 There is a substantial conservation area covering the town centre of Loddon and extending into Chedgrave, plus a separate conservation area around the Church of All Saints in Chedgrave. The town centre is characterised by closely built-up streets, interspersed with important open spaces such as Church Plain.

6.45 The Broads Authority area extends into the town centre, along the valley of the River Chet. The A146 bypass defines the extent of the settlement to the south and west, with the river valley that separates Low and High Bungay Road from the development off Beccles Road providing a green break.

6.46 As set out in the housing table in policy 7.3, 199 homes were either delivered in Loddon and Chedgrave between the base date of 1st April 2018 and 31st March 2022 or were planned to be delivered on already committed sites. Two new sites have been allocated in this plan which provide for approximately 240 new homes (S.LO.1 for 180 homes and S.CH.1 for 60 homes). This gives a total deliverable housing commitment for Loddon and Chedgrave in policy 7.3 of 439 homes between 2018-2038. Land is also allocated at site S.LO.2 to extend Loddon Industrial Estate.

6.47 The Chet Neighbourhood Plan is being prepared for Loddon and Chedgrave.

6.48 All allocations are expected to address standard requirements associated with development. These vary from place to place but are likely to include mitigation of flood risk (as well as SUDs), highways improvements, safeguarding of minerals resources and land remediation, along with measures to protect the environment and biodiversity and to avoid landscape intrusion.

6.49 This site is adjacent to the eastern part of the built-up area of Loddon and will have two points of access.

6.50 The site rises to the north, so the design of the development needs to address topography issues, particularly with reference to the site’s proximity to the Broads. The proximity to the Broads may also mean development impacts on nearby SSSI/Natura 2000 designated sites, which must be mitigated.

6.51 Norfolk Minerals and Waste Core Strategy Policy CS16 applies as this site is partly underlain by safeguarded minerals resources. The benefits of extracting the minerals, if feasible, will be taken into consideration.

6.52 This somewhat elevated site is allocated subject to a design brief and masterplan which should provide for open space in the south of the site to mitigate landscape impacts, enhance the green infrastructure network and take advantage of the site’s setting adjacent to the historic park landscape.

6.53 The allocation is subject to visibility improvements and frontage development at Langley Road to the north. A 2-metre footway will be required at the site frontage to link with existing facilities.

6.54 The proximity to the Broads may also mean development impacts on nearby SSSI/Natura 2000 designated sites, which must be mitigated. The site is allocated at a lower density than usual to address its heritage/landscape mitigation, surface water drainage and open space requirements.

6.55 Norfolk Minerals and Waste Core Strategy Policy CS16 applies as this site is partly underlain by safeguarded minerals resources. The benefits of extracting the minerals, if feasible, will be taken into consideration.

6.56 This site was allocated in 2015 as part of the South Norfolk Local Plan but has not yet been developed. The site is re-allocated for employment/commercial development. The site’s proximity to the Broads may mean development impacts on nearby SSSI/Natura 2000 designated sites, which must be mitigated.

6.57 The Historic Environment Record should be consulted to determine any need for archaeological surveys prior to development.

6.58 There is an existing surface water and foul sewer in Anglian Water’s ownership within the boundary of the site. This should be taken into account in the design of the development including safeguarding suitable access for maintenance.

6.59 Poringland/Framingham Earl is identified as a key service centre under policy 7.3. The settlement has a range of services including a post office, supermarket, other stores, pubs, restaurants/take-aways, two doctors’ surgeries, a dentist, a primary school, a high school, two community halls, as well as recreation facilities at the high school and some local employment. ; The settlement is well connected to Norwich by bus.

6.60 A substantial amount of land continues to be promoted for development in Poringland/Framingham Earl (including land in adjacent parishes of Bixley, Caistor St Edmund, Framingham Pigot, Framingham Earl, and Stoke Holy Cross).

6.61 Large parts of the parishes are rural, with a distinctive setting created by areas of heavily wooded former parkland. ; The 2012 South Norfolk Place Making Guide suggests that development should not further accentuate the linear settlement pattern.

6.62 The settlement has a history of surface water and ground water drainage difficulties, and the most vulnerable sites were identified in an urban drainage study. ;This issue is a consideration for many sites in Poringland and Framingham Earl, and mitigation will be needed for any development on such sites.

6.63 A Neighbourhood Plan for Poringland parish was made in July 2021.

6.64 There were 510 homes which were either delivered in Poringland, Framingham Earl and Framingham Pigot between the base date of 1st April 2018 and 31st March 2022 or were planned to be delivered on committed sites at the latter date. No new allocations are included in this plan due to the high amounts of prior commitment and to the other constraints identified above. This gives a total deliverable housing commitment for Poringland, Framingham Earl and Framingham Pigot of 510 homes in policy 7.3 between 2018-2038. ;An employment site (S.PO.1) in the west of the settlement is re-allocated in this plan.

6.65 All allocations are expected to address standard requirements associated with development. These vary from place to place but are likely to include mitigation for flood risk (as well as SUDs), highways improvements, safeguarding of minerals resources and land remediation, as well as measures to protect the environment and biodiversity, and avoid landscape intrusion.

6.66 The site was allocated in 2015 as part of the South Norfolk Local Plan but has not yet been developed. It sits beneath two radio masts which dominate the site and require access for maintenance. ; The site is therefore unsuitable for housing or other uses and is re-allocated for light industrial uses compatible with the nearby residential and equestrian land uses.

6.67 The Historic Environment Record to be consulted to determine any need for archaeological surveys prior to development.

6.68 Norfolk Minerals and Waste Core Strategy Policy CS16 applies, as this site is underlain by safeguarded minerals resources. The benefits of extracting the minerals, if feasible, will be taken into consideration.

6.69 Reepham is identified as a key service centre under policy 7.3. Services include a high school, primary school, shop, doctors’ surgery, village hall, library, and public houses. The villages of Booton, Guestwick, Heydon, Salle and Wood Dalling all cluster with Reepham as they are within the catchment of the primary school, but these settlements are rural, with no settlement limits and limited services and facilities so no development is proposed. Guestwick has an adopted Neighbourhood Plan Area.

6.70 As set out in policy 7.3, 203 homes were delivered in Reepham between the plan’s base date of 1st April 2018 and 31st March 2022 or were deliverable commitment, having planning permission or being allocated at the latter date. This includes the sites allocated as B.RE.1 and B.RE.2 in this plan. No further allocations have been made in this plan due to the level of prior commitment and environmental and infrastructure issues. This gives a total deliverable housing commitment in policy 7.3 for Reepham of 203 homes between 2018-2038.

6.71 All allocations are expected to address standard requirements associated with development. These vary from place to place but are likely to include mitigation for flood risk (as well as SUDs), highways improvements, safeguarding of minerals resources, land remediation, as well as measures to protect the environment and biodiversity, and to avoid landscape intrusion.

6.72 This site was allocated in 2016 as part of the Broadland Local Plan but has not yet been developed. As a result, the site is included in the completions and deliverable commitment part of the housing table in policy 7.3. It is allocated as site B.RE.1 through this plan, to provide approximately 100 homes and supporting green space and cemetery land. The site is allocated at a lower density than usual, due to the need for highway improvements, ecological mitigation and open space. More homes may be accommodated, subject to an acceptable design and layout taking account of the above being achieved.

6.73 Norfolk Mineral and Waste Core Strategy Policy CS16 applies as this site is underlain by safeguarded mineral resources. The benefits of extracting the minerals, if feasible, will be taken into consideration.

6.74 This site was allocated in 2016 as part of the Broadland Local Plan but has not yet been developed. As a result, the site is included in the completions and deliverable commitment part of the housing table in policy 7.3. It is allocated as site B.RE.2 through this plan, to provide approximately 20 homes, along with employment uses. A planning permission exists for the site (reference: 20180963) that if developed will provide for a 60-bed care home, 20 assisted flats and 15 assisted bungalows.

6.75 Wroxham is identified as a key service centre in policy 7.3 of this plan. Services shared with neighbouring Hoveton include a high school, primary school, shops, doctor’s surgery, village hall, and library.

6.76 The Wroxham Neighbourhood Plan was ‘made’ in March 2019 and covers the period to 2039. The vision for the Wroxham Neighbourhood Plan is for Wroxham parish to remain a unique and beautiful waterside community. It will have a variety of good quality homes to meet strategic and local needs, improved community services, effective traffic management, and a range of businesses, developed in ways that are sensitive to its iconic location and the conservation area.

6.77 5 homes were delivered in Wroxham between the base date of 1st April 2018 and 31st March 2022. There is no other prior commitment that will deliver or new allocations. Traffic constraints and Wroxham’s proximity to the Broads restrict further growth in this key service centre.