345
In line with the settlement hierarchy, the main towns of Aylsham, Diss (with part of Roydon), Harleston, Long Stratton and Wymondham collectively provide just over 6,800 homes, around 14% of the proposed housing growth planned to 2038.
346
The towns play a vital role in the rural economy, providing employment opportunities and services for wider hinterlands. As such, they are engines of rural growth and it is important that they are enabled to grow at appropriate scales, having regard to infrastructure and environmental issues, to enable them to thrive. Growth in these towns will have good access to services.
347
Some development is already identified for the towns through existing local plans. In particular, major development proposals are set out in the Long Stratton and Wymondham Area Action Plans (AAPs), which are not superseded by the GNLP and continue to operate.
348
Since allocations meet growth needs, in line with other policies in this plan, windfall sites will be limited to locations within and, for very small developments limited to 5 homes, adjacent to settlement boundaries.
349
Retail evidence110 suggests that there will not be the need for major additional retail expansion in the main towns, with the possible exception of Diss. Since retailing is experiencing significant changes, no land allocations are made through the plan. This policy and policy 6 allow for such development, prioritising town centre locations, if new evidence justifies it.
Footnotes
110Greater Norwich Employment, Town Centre and Retail Study (The GVA Study)