Broadland announces preferred site allocations for Reepham

Broadland District Council has announced its preferred site allocations for new housing in Reepham over the next 12 years.
 
The two sites now proposed are land off Broomhill Lane (site PS48-01) for 100-120 dwellings and the former station yard on Station Road (site PS48-02), which comprises a mixed development of employment and around 20 dwellings.
 

Land north and south off Broomhill Lane, adjacent to the high school, is one of two preferred sites for housing development in Reepham announced recently by Broadland District Council

 
The two sites now proposed are land off Broomhill Lane (site PS48-01) for 100-120 dwellings and the former station yard on Station Road (site PS48-02), which comprises a mixed development of employment and around 20 dwellings.
 
It is understood there will be a further six-week public consultation on these preferred sites. Any of the other sites that have been put forward but not selected will have to put their case to the Planning Inspector at a public examination later this year.
 
Reepham is identified as a “key service centre” in the Joint Core Strategy, under which 100-200 new homes are proposed for the town up to 2026, subject to overcoming sewage capacity constraints, with the encouragement of “appropriate local job growth”.
 
Broadland said Reepham presented limited opportunities for “infill” development, but recognises there are difficulties with the physical and social infrastructure of the town.
 
In terms of waste water treatment, Anglian Water has confirmed there is adequate capacity at the Reepham Water Recycling Centre to accommodate the proposed growth.
 
Broadland noted that the land north and south off Broomhill Lane, adjacent to the high school, includes open space and other community facilities, such as additional cemetery land, which will help break up the residential area and avoids a “large” suburban estate feel. It is within walking distance of the town centre and in close proximity to the primary and high schools.
 
The site, which was supported by Reepham Town Council, also offers the opportunity to provide a new sports hall for the use of the secondary school and the wider community.
 
Vehicular access would be provided with suitable improvements to Broomhill Lane and the junction with Whitwell Road, including the widening and realignment of Broomhill Lane; the 20 mph speed restriction could be extended along Whitwell Road.
 
The land on the former station yard for mixed residential and employment development is a brownfield site within the defined settlement limit, but would need appropriate landscaping (including the existing mature trees) and design to ensure it fits in with the character of the local area.
 
Suitable access to this site will provide the opportunity to improve visibility onto Cawston Road. The Town Council raised no objections to development of the site.
 
The proposer of this site claims that a mixed use proposal is being brought forward by the owners to provide 22 new homes and a range of commercial facilities and employment on site, which could potentially create up to 130 new jobs.
 
Two of Broadland’s earlier preferred options for residential development in Reepham have now been rejected.
 
Land to the south of Dereham Road (PO48-01) of 4.5 hectares was proposed to accommodate some 90 homes. However, this site does not present as many community benefits as the Broomhill Lane site and would have more of an impact on the setting of the town being located at a main entrance.
 
Land to the east of Whitwell Road (PO48-02) of 2.1 hectares was proposed to accommodate around 50 homes with a further 1.7 hectares to the south allocated for open space and landscaping.
 
However, Broadland said road widening and footpath provision would be required and there were “no expressions of community support” for the potential to provide recreational open space.
 
The site north of Whitwell Street and south of the primary school (Z48-01), which was also supported by the Town Council, failed to satisfy Highway Authority concerns over vehicular access.
 
Meanwhile, the three sites proposed by the Salle Estate were considered less preferable to others in terms of their proximity to local services and facilities.
 
Broadland said the distance between these sites and the schools is unlikely to encourage walking and cycling, and would more likely increase car usage within the town.
 
See our earlier news stories:
Salle Estate presents revised housing development proposals
Another consultation on new housing development sites
Reepham Town Council backs two new sites for housing
Outline housing scheme proposed for Whitwell Road site
Broadland’s ‘Preferred Options’ summer consultation opens
Broadland announces preferred sites for development

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