354
Diss is strategically located on the Norwich to London railway line and the A140 and A143 provide road links to Norwich, Ipswich, east coast ports and Bury St. Edmunds. Diss is also a hub for local bus links.
355
Diss has the widest range of shops and services of the main towns, as well as a broad range of employment opportunities mainly located to the east of the town centre close to the railway. The shops and services are mainly within the attractive town centre of Diss, which has significant pedestrian priority areas, along with supermarkets on Victoria Road. Diss Mere and its surrounding green space provide a distinctive focal point for the town centre.
356
These locational attributes and connectivity provide the potential for economic growth as an enhanced centre serving a large rural hinterland in South Norfolk and northern Suffolk.
357
Diss and Roydon are in the Waveney Valley. The valley provides an attractive setting for the settlements and is the hub of an extensive green infrastructure network including the Angles and Boudicca Ways.
358
While delivery of housing has been good in recent years, associated environmental constraints place limits on the potential for housing expansion. Local evidence111 shows that traffic constraints, particularly on Victoria Road, also reduce the potential for significant additional expansion.
359
The existing commitment of just over 300 dwellings in April 2018 is complemented by a strategic requirement for an additional 400 homes set by this plan. 150 of these homes are allocated through this plan on a site neighbouring the railway station. Making use of consultation on potential sites undertaken through the GNLP, the Diss and District Neighbourhood Plan will allocate land for the remaining 250 homes.
360
Evidence112 suggests that Diss has the best potential of the main towns for retail growth, which could be accompanied by further improvements to the public realm and a strengthened food and beverage offer in the town centre.
361
The GVA Study also shows that Diss has the potential for jobs growth on existing undeveloped allocated employment land, particularly for manufacturing, including high value activities. The sites are close to the railway line and have good access to a large neighbouring employment area at Eye Airfield, allowing for complementary activities.
Footnotes
111In the Diss Network Improvement Strategy
112Greater Norwich Employment, Town Centre and Retail Study (The GVA Study)