Policy 1 - The Sustainable Growth Strategy

Policy 1 - The Sustainable Growth Strategy

Sustainable development and inclusive growth are supported by delivery of the following between 2018 and 2038:

  • to meet the need for around 40,550 new homes, provision is made64 for a minimum of 49,492 new homes;
  • to aid delivery of 33,000 additional jobs and support key economic sectors, around 360 hectares of employment land is allocated, and employment opportunities are promoted at the local level;
  • supporting infrastructure will be provided in line with policies 2 and 4;
  • environmental protection and enhancement measures including further improvements to the green infrastructure network will be delivered.

The sustainable growth strategy is illustrated in the Key Diagram.

Settlement Hierarchy 

The settlement hierarchy is:

  1. Norwich urban area (Norwich and Norwich Fringe65)
  2. Main towns
  3. Key service centres
  4. Village clusters.

Growth is distributed in line with the settlement hierarchy to provide good access to services, employment and infrastructure. It is provided through urban and rural regeneration, along with sustainable urban and village extensions.

Most of the housing, employment and infrastructure growth is focussed in the Strategic Growth Area illustrated on the Key Diagram. This includes Greater Norwich’s part of the Cambridge Norwich Tech Corridor, including the Norwich urban area, Hethersett and Wymondham and key strategic jobs sites at Hethel and the Norwich Research Park. Growth is also focussed in towns and villages to support vibrant rural communities.

HOUSING

Housing commitments are located to meet the need for homes across the area, providing good access to services, facilities and jobs, supporting sustainable urban and rural living. Accordingly, housing commitments are distributed as follows: 

Areas Existing deliverable commitment (including uplift and delivery 2018/19 and 2019/20) New allocations Total minimum deliverable housing commitment
Norwich urban area 26,019 6,672 32,691
The main towns of Wymondham, Aylsham, Diss (with part of Roydon), Harleston and Long Stratton 5,151 1,655 6,806
The key service centres of Acle, Blofield, Brundall, Hethersett, Hingham, Loddon / Chedgrave, Poringland / Framingham Earl, Reepham and Wroxham 2,984 695 3,679
Village clusters (see appendix 5 details of the clusters) In the remaining parts of Broadland (see policy 7.4 and the GNLP Sites Plan for specific sites) 1,146 482 4,220
  In South Norfolk (see policy 7.4 and the South Norfolk Village Clusters Housing Site Allocations Local Plan for specific allocations) 1,392 A minimum of 1,200
Allocations Total 36,692 10,704 47,396
Homes delivered though policy 7.5 NA 800
Windfall allowance NA 1,296
Overall Total 49,492

Policies 7.1 to 7.5 provide details on distribution and the Sites document provides individual site policies. Individual site policies for villages in South Norfolk will be in the South Norfolk Village Clusters Housing Site Allocations Local Plan.

To provide choice and aid delivery of housing, proposals for additional “windfall” housing growth will be considered acceptable in principle at appropriate scales and locations where they would not have a negative impact on the character and scale of the settlement, and subject to other local plan policies:

  1. Within settlement boundaries in accordance with the above settlement hierarchy;
  2. Elsewhere in village clusters, subject to the requirements of policy 7.4.
  3. On sites of up to 3 to 5 dwellings in all parishes, subject to the requirements of policy 7.5.

Plan review and five-year housing land supply

 This plan will be reviewed in line with the requirements on the new plan-making system.  Five-year housing land supply will be calculated across the whole of the three districts. The plan provides enough allocations to provide a five-year housing land supply on adoption66.

ECONOMY

Key Strategic employment locations in the Key Diagram are protected from other forms of development and will support both a broad range of employment and key economic sectors as set out in policy 6. The key strategic locations are:

  • Norwich city centre;
  • the Norwich Airport area;
  • Browick Interchange, Wymondham;
  • Longwater;
  • Rackheath;
  • Broadland Business Park;
  • Broadland Gate;
  • Norwich Research Park;
  • Hethel and
  • The Food Enterprise Park at Easton/Honingham.

In addition, smaller scale employment sites are allocated in urban areas, towns and large villages to provide local job opportunities, supporting small businesses and vibrant urban and rural economies.

INFRASTRUCTURE

The sustainable growth strategy will be supported by improvements to the transport system, green infrastructure and services.

Footnotes

64This includes existing allocated sites carried forward, new allocations made through the GNLP, sites with planning consent and allowances for delivery on small scale (from policy 7.5) and other windfall sites.

65The Norwich fringe is the built up parts of the fringe parishes of Colney, Costessey, Cringleford, Drayton, Easton, Hellesdon, Old Catton, Sprowston, Taverham, Thorpe St. Andrew, Trowse and the remainder of the Growth Triangle.

66This will be confirmed through the housing delivery trajectory to be included as an appendix to the plan when it is taken to cabinets. We have written to all of the site owners/agents for the preferred options and reasonable alternative housing sites. This is to require the site owners/agents to evidence when their sites will deliver in the plan period.