Appendix 1 Infrastructure requirements

This appendix provides additional detail to support policy 4 of this plan. It sets out infrastructure requirements to serve growth as identified in the Greater Norwich Local Plan Infrastructure Needs Report (GNLPINR). The GNLPINR and this appendix will be updated to inform the Publication (Regulation 19) version of the Greater Norwich Local Plan.

The infrastructure will be provided by a variety of organisations and funding sources. The requirements have been identified through ongoing and completed topic and organisation-based studies and strategies which inform both the GNLPINR and this plan.

Pedestrian and Cycling

Awaiting the findings of the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure plan (LCWIP), which is currently being developed. 

Rail

Awaiting findings of the Norfolk Rail Prospectus, which is currently being reviewed.

Road

In addition to the schemes Highways England have committed to, further trunk road junction improvements may be required for future growth. The A47 Longwater Interchange and the following junctions will require further investigation:

• A47/A140 Ipswich Road

• A47/A146 Loddon Road

• Spinks Lane, Wymondham

• New Road, Acle

Water

Anglian Water’s Water Recycling Long Term Plan plans for growth to 2045 through increased capacity at the following water recycling centres:

Acle; Aylsham; Belaugh; Long Stratton; Rackheath Springs – Wroxham; Sisland; Woodton; Whitlingham and Wymondham. 

The Water Cycle Study undertaken for the GNLP identified locations where there may be future capacity issues to be addressed for the growth proposed in the GNLP within the wastewater catchments of Aylsham, Foulsham, Long Stratton, Reepham, Rackheath, Diss, Ditchingham, Saxlingham, Whitlingham Trowse and Woodton.  These issues should, at least in-part, be addressed by Anglian Water’s current Long Term Plan, but revisions may be necessary to this to fully address the GNLP proposals when finalised.

Energy

Substations requiring upgrades and/or the use of measures to off-set the need for reinforcement (such as demand side responses and energy storage (batteries):

Substation (132/33kV)

Affected development sites

Sprowston Primary

Beeston Park

Home Farm Sprowston

Land off Salhouse Road

Land south of Green Lane East

Land south of Green Lane West

Land south of Salhouse Road

Rackheath

White House Farm

Peachman Way Primary

Broadland Gate

Brook Farm

Land east of Broadland Business Park

Land north of Broadland Business Park

Earlham Grid Local A/B

Costessey

GN Food Enterprise Park

Longwater / Easton

Norwich Research Park

Three Score

Cringleford Primary

Cringleford

Hethersett

Broadband

A guide to Broadband for Norfolk Local Planning Authorities produced for the Norfolk Strategic Planning Framework sets out that superfast broadband coverage is rapidly improving, 92% of Norfolk’s homes and businesses can now access superfast broadband, up from 42% in 2012 and initiatives, led by the County Council aim to make high-speed broadband available to more than 95% of Norfolk’s premises, with further work planned. The report recommends that all residential developments over 10 dwellings and all employment developments will enable Fibre to the Premises (FTTP).

For schemes under these thresholds the Council’s expectation is that provision for FTTP will be achieved, where practical.

Education 

Norfolk County Council have six schools (three primary, one free school and two primary relocation and expansion) either in the process of being built or plans are in place for building over the next 2-3 years.

Other new schools are planned across the Greater Norwich area once housing and pupil numbers suggest that existing schools in the area are no longer able to accommodate local children. These currently include 10 new primary schools and one secondary school:

• Wymondham Silfield – 420 place primary school.

• Poringland – new school in response to considerable housing in the area – site search investigation being commissioned.

• Salhouse Road, Sprowston – site safeguarded for new 420 place school within new housing development.

• Hellesdon – new 420 place primary school within new development on former golf Club grounds.

• Beeston Park – sites for 2 x 420 place schools within proposed new housing development.

• White House Farm Sprowston or North Rackheath – the potential locations for a new secondary school required to support housing growth in the Growth Triangle.

• Rackheath – 2 x 420 new primary phase schools.

• Land north and south of Smee Lane, Norwich – planned new 420 place primary school in response to growth.

• Long Stratton – new 420 place primary school building in response to strategic growth in the village.

There will be additional new schools and school expansions to provide for the new allocations made through this plan. For larger sites, these have been considered as part of site allocations e.g. the preferred option site for 1,400 homes at Taverham includes a primary school site.

Health Care Requirements

Type of need

Existing Services

Additional need resulting from growth

Primary Care

GPs (currently 68 surgeries, 43 of which are main surgeries and 25 branch surgeries), community pharmacists and optometrists.

There are currently 2 potential options to increase capacity as required around the north and north-west of Norwich:

  1. New build at Broadland Hub within or close to planned developments at Rackheath and Beeston Park.
  2. No new build, increased numbers spread amongst existing practices.

 

The selected option(s) will be confirmed throughout 2021-22, following demand and capacity reviews and Primary Care estate strategy development.

 

Hospital

There is one acute hospital, the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (NNUH). Other services are delivered from several other locations throughout the Greater Norwich area.

The NHS Long Term Plan and the STP Operating Plan will identify and address building capacity, infrastructure investment requirements, various facilities and all other constraints faced by the STP/ICS.

 

The NNUH estates strategy will be updated throughout 2021, in line with STP/ICS plans.

 

Mental Health

Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT) provides a broad range of services across Greater Norwich, with Hellesdon Hospital and the Julian Hospital in Norwich the largest sites.

In line with the shift to care in the community, the mental health trust is expected to shift services to wrap around primary care networks. Existing clinical and administrative provision at Hellesdon is not fit for purpose. This area of the site is going through a disposal process for housing. The NSFT’s remaining accommodation in Norwich has constraints, including parking at the Julian Hospital. There is no spare capacity in primary care for mental health services in Diss and this may need to be reviewed. The above is included in the NSFT estates strategy review to be addressed as by the GNLP as and when appropriate.

 

Community Services

These are provided by Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust at community hospital sites and health centres across the Greater Norwich area and include:

•Inpatient specialist rehabilitation services;

•Clinic services for outpatients;

•Community nursing in patients’ homes.

 

The NHS Long Term Plan and the STP Operating Plan will identify and address building capacity, infrastructure investment requirements, various facilities and all other constraints faced by the STP/ICS.

 

In line with the shift to care in the community, the community health trust is expected to shift services to wrap around primary care networks. The Community Trust estate strategy will be refreshed throughout 2021, in line with STP/ICS plans.

 

Police

Awaiting findings of the infrastructure work Norfolk Constabulary have commissioned NPS to produce.

Libraries

The Greater Norwich housing growth locations show an impact to the north east of the Norwich city boundary centred around Rackheath with an estimate of some 13,000+ dwellings. This has previously been identified as an area that will require additional library facilities due to the scale and size of the development. Therefore, based on an anticipated growth of 13,000 dwellings and an increased population of c26,000 people this would equate to 780 square metres of library space. We would anticipate, however, that this is over provision bearing in mind the location of other facilities in the locality and we suggest this is reduced to 390 square metres with an anticipated building cost of c £1millon.

Sports and Leisure

Awaiting findings of the Greater Norwich Sports Facilities Strategy, which is currently being reviewed.

Waste Management

Norfolk County Council has approved a capital programme for recycling centre improvements, including:

  • Replacing the current Mile Cross Recycling Centre and relocating the site at Ketteringham to South Norwich;
  • Replacing the Wymondham recycling centre and expanding the site at Morningthorpe;
  • Extending the Strumpshaw Recycling Centre. 

The capacity of new and extended sites will be designed to accommodate forecast growth. Funding for recycling centre improvements has been allocated by the County Council for the replacement sites for Mile Cross, Ketteringham and Wymondham and the extension of Strumpshaw and Morningthorpe.  If required, contributions may be sought to deal with the cumulative impact of a series of both small and large developments.