Agenda item

NORTH WALSHAM WEST UPDATE

To receive a verbal update.

Minutes:

The Senior Planning Officer gave a verbal presentation on the consultation feedback in respect of the North Walsham West extension.  The consultation had been web based due to the ongoing pandemic and ran from 24 May to 24 June 2021.  The consultation presented to the public initial high level ideas as to how the site could be developed, which built on the dialogue with stakeholders and partners over the past year.  The draft aims and key requirements were presented to the public, with a plan indicating how the site could be laid out.  There had been excellent work by the Council’s Communications Team in getting the message out to the public.  Over 430 individual responses were received from approximately 200 people, with a number of more technical representations from partners and stakeholders.

 

A number of stakeholder events had been held with the Town Council and other local stakeholders, which included a technical workshop with the Highway Authority and an environmental and green infrastructure workshop.   

 

One of the main issues raised in the consultation related to traffic and transport, with concerns about the existing traffic conditions and potential for future congestion.  People were keen that cycling and walking connections into the town and to key services were considered.  There were many comments regarding the delivery of the link road, with some requesting early delivery and some questioning if it would be delivered. 

 

The next stage of highway work had been commissioned to look in more detail at the northern link road and its links into the industrial estate.  The design code and place making would put focus on cycling and walking to ensure that sustainable principles were at the heart of the development.  There would be ongoing partnership working with technical partners and local stakeholders on these issues.

 

Another key issue was infrastructure, with concerns raised over its delivery and impact on services that were already stretched.  A District-wide Infrastructure Position Statement was being prepared to assess the infrastructure requirements on a broad basis, but detailed work was being undertaken with stakeholders on the infrastructure requirements for North Walsham and how they would be delivered.  There were no significant showstoppers but further work was needed to gain a full understanding of the issues.

 

There had already been dialogue with the NHS, Primary Care Trust and others regarding healthcare provision on the site and in North Walsham generally, and a meeting would be held to gain further understanding of primary care provision in the town and what land could potentially be provided as part of the proposals to support it.

 

A large number of comments had been received on climate change and environment, with concerns regarding building on agricultural land, loss of habitats and general impact on the environment of the scale of building proposed.  A great deal of support had been received for the green space approach and representations had been made regarding improvements to make the scheme more sustainable.  The sustainable principles of walking and cycling had been well received.

 

There had been a high degree of negativity across the board, but there had also been many positive comments as to how people wanted to see the scheme delivered.  Sufficient information had been received to shape the next stage of the work.  Scoping was being undertaken for the commissioning of technical work on the environment and green infrastructure.  It was hoped to position North Walsham West as an exemplar scheme for green infrastructure and environmental delivery.

 

It was hoped to receive the stage 2 Highways report within the next few weeks which would give more certainty over the northern link.  Work was ongoing with infrastructure providers, continuous dialogue was taking place with the landowners and promoters as to their role in taking the scheme forward and the team would continue to work with the Town Council and other stakeholders to ensure they were kept informed and involved.  Further details would be brought to the Working Party at an appropriate stage.

 

The Chairman thanked the Senior Planning Officer for his presentation.

 

Councillor N Dixon asked to what extent the consultation responses addressed concerns regarding the highway impact on the B1150, and in particular the traffic implications for Coltishall and Horstead.

 

The Senior Planning Officer stated that there had been a great deal of input from neighbouring parishes and questions raised over the wider impacts of the development on the network. 

 

The Planning Policy Manager stated that he had undertaken to share with Broadland District Council the outcome of the stage 2 highway report, which would advise as to the offsite impact of traffic on the B1150.  Evidence was not yet available.  He hoped to be in a positon to bring a report to the Working Party in October at the latest. 

 

The Chairman asked if the Brief would be finalised to coincide with the Regulation 19 consultation.

 

The Planning Policy Manager stated that it would be difficult to achieve the timetable as previously agreed.  The Brief was unlikely to be finalised in September to coincide with the proposed Regulation 19 consultation and the Working Party would need to consider if it wished to proceed on the basis of the progress made on the Brief at the time.  He considered that there had been substantial progress and proof of concept could be demonstrated, subject to a caveat in respect of the northern link into the industrial estate.  He considered that the point had been reached where professional help was needed to finalise the Brief, which might take several months, and the Local Plan could not be delayed.

 

Councillor N Lloyd considered that the consultation had been worthwhile and well attended.  There was a great deal of concern in the town.  The timing of the infrastructure, particularly the link road between Norwich Road and Cromer Road, was an important issue.  The town did not want incremental development with rat runs created.  He hoped that the Council would push for early delivery of the infrastructure.  He considered that Councillor Dixon had made good points regarding the traffic build up in Coltishall.   There was understandable concern among people whose homes bordered the new development and he requested a wildlife corridor between the existing homes on Norwich Road and Skeyton Road to benefit the residents of those dwellings.

 

The Planning Policy Manager considered that there was sufficient land to incorporate a linear corridor along the edge of the existing boundary of the town, which would also benefit the new development by providing a functional link from one end of the development to the other.  However, there were other competing priorities and he could not make any commitments until it was understood how it might impact on the distribution of other land uses.

 

Councillor P Heinrich concurred with Councillor Lloyd’s comments.  He stated that he was a member of North Walsham Town Council, which considered that the link into the industrial estate was critical.  There would be little support from the Town Council without this link to take HGV traffic out of the town. 

 

The Working Party noted the verbal report.