Local consultation still open for Greater Norwich Local Plan

By our planning correspondent Hugh Ivins
 
The proposed Greater Norwich Local Plan (GNLP) covers Broadland, Norwich and South Norfolk and will supersede the Broadland Local Plan of 2015. The plan period has also been extended for an additional 12 years from 2026 to 2038.
 

 
The proposals involve growth of the local economy, vibrant communities, additional homes, better infrastructure, a cleaner environment and ensuring delivery of the objectives.
 
The GNLP is currently at the Regulation 19 stage from 1 February to 15 March and the public are invited to comment on the proposals. It can be accessed ONLINE, where residents can register to submit comments.
 
In the proposals for Reepham, which can be viewed HERE, the housing allocations for REP1 (100-120 houses) and REP2 (20 houses) are the same as those previously adopted by the Broadland Local Plan: no new housing is proposed, other than the existing allocations and commitments totalling 148 houses, to 2038.
 
However, it should be noted that the REP1 proposal now specifies “approximately 100 homes in total” as well as a sports hall, which conflicts with the current undetermined applications 20200847 for 141 homes and the separate application 20201183 for a sports hall.
 
Meanwhile, the REP2 allocation that specifies “approximately 20 homes” has been superseded by the planning consent 20180963 for a food retail store, a 60-bedroom care home, 20 assisted flats, 15 assisted bungalows, a clubhouse and car parking.
 
There are also a further seven additional sites for housing allocations around Reepham that are shown but considered unsuitable due to the high level of existing commitments and environmental/infrastructure constraints.
 
The current public consultation period is open until 15 March, after which the GNLP will be submitted in July to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government for a public examination in November/December and adoption in September 2022.
 
Reepham Town Council has yet to submit any comments on the current proposals; its next (virtual) meeting is on Wednesday 10 March.
 

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