The Breckland Local Plan Update is now available to view

I would urge everyone to read the documents as set out below.

It is imperative that we all understand the issues at this stage and comment on them.

Just click on link below, which will take you directly to the commonplace initial page.

https://brecklandlocalplan.commonplace.is/

From there progress via link ‘Find out more’

Takes you to ‘Breckland Local Plan’ page.

You are welcome to read through the reports at will, the ones concerning us most are:

1. Preferred Options Report/Survey
2. Consultation Paper – Villages with boundaries
3. Potential Development Sites:

• Sites assessment Phase 1 – Using traffic light assessment
• Full List of sites with traffic light assessment and other information.

MAIN POINTERS:

There is so much to take in. So I’ve tried to focus on the main bits of the Preferred Options, which is a lengthy report:

• 13-14: Comments to: We need to make sure Breckland are aware of our unique position in terms of planning.
• 35-39: Settlement hierarchy
• 47-48: Settlement hierarchy
• 50-52: Strategic growth options
• 60-63: Distribution of housing development
• 69-71: Small scale housing development in smaller villages
• 109-111: Garden and backland development
• 121: Employment & economic development
• 125: Economic growth strategy
• 128-134: Employment Land (Inc Snetterton)
• 206-208: Local green space
• 232-233: Sustainable transport
• 282-282: Secondary villages
• 289: Development in our village.

IN SUMMARY:

• We are officially classed as a village with boundary. There was a great deal of discussion on this point. It protects us from large scale development to a large degree but constrains us in others. Because of Station Road development, we have exceeded our housing target to 2046.
• We will only see additional housing allocation in certain cases as outlined in the report (eg redundant farm buildings).
• Any proposed housing outside the settlement boundary is likely to fail.
• I am not happy with the way they calculate growth. I’m looking at this in more detail as I think they may have their figures wrong.
• A great deal of mention regards new Barkers Farm development at Larling and its tie up with Snetterton and East Harling railway station.

BUT: no mention of Eccles Road Station and its proximity (200 metres), to the same employment area!!

• Mentions the development of the field adjacent to the spur for warehousing.
• No other site is being considered at this time in our parish.
• Not happy about the site between houses adjacent to the Garnier Hall/houses and the industrial area. If we are not allowed housing on this site

then will this be seen as a potential development site for warehousing?

But at least we are being spared large scale development.

It would be good to see more trains to Eccles Road, which would help to make us a more viable community.

Since we lost our school and pub we have become very vulnerable.

Breckland and QPC NEED TO HEAR YOUR VIEWS

Peter Lotarius

Planning Officer, Quidenham Parish Council