Joint Core Strategy Public consultation Reg25

Appendix 0 - the favoured option

Major growth to the north east of Norwich in the Old Catton-Sprowston-Rackheath-Thorpe St Andrew growth triangle and moderate growth at Wymondham, Hethersett, Cringleford, Easton / Costessey, and Long Stratton.

Introduction

The strategy for new major growth in the Norwich Policy Area is based on making the fullest use of land in sustainable locations within the Norwich urban area. The scale of new development needed over the next 20 years also requires significant greenfield allocations and the strategy for these is twofold.

A major urban extension is proposed in the Old Catton / Sprowston / Rackheath / Thorpe St Andrew growth triangle to provide a concentration of growth which can support local services and infrastructure including secondary education and high quality public transport links and with potential to contribute significant green infrastructure.

The growth triangle is proposed to accommodate 10,000 dwellings in total. A large part of the development at Rackheath may be provided as an 'eco-community' under a separate process progressed by central government. The proposed scale of growth within this area remains the same, even if the eco community does not get the go ahead.

In South Norfolk the urban edge is defined by the Yare valley which makes a similar large scale urban extension inappropriate. The strategy recognises this as well as the presence of the large freestanding market town of Wymondham and proposes moderate growth at a cluster of separate locations.

This is intended to offer a reasonable degree of locational choice for new development but in locations with access to public transport routes which currently perform well, or which are prioritised for improvement, and to a range of strategic employment locations

In terms of secondary education the preferred solution to meet the requirements of the development is being refined but the clustering of growth in this part of the Norwich Policy Area should enable some flexibility in coming to a solution.

The strategy also promotes development at Long Stratton to achieve local benefits through the provision of a bypass. Further work is being undertaken to establish the scale of development required to fund a bypass while providing for appropriate local infrastructure, without adversely affecting funding for other infrastructure required by the strategy.

Key Dependencies

To implement the option significant highway improvements are required at the Longwater (A1074), and Thickthorn (A11) and Harford (A140) junctions on the A47 Norwich Southern Bypass together with provision of the Norwich Northern Distributor Road which will also improve Postwick junction. Completion of a bypass is a prerequisite for the scale of growth identified in Long Stratton.

Growth at Wymondham and Hethersett is likely to require expansion of the existing Thickthorn Park and Ride site with improved access from A11 northbound. The growth in the north east will require the promotion of at least one bus priority route into the city centre which may be Gurney Road / Salhouse Road. Growth to the south of Norwich would need improvements to public transport - there will need to be bus priority improvements on the approach to the A140/A47 Harford junction. Within the Norwich Southern Bypass, further bus priority will need to be introduced along the A140 Ipswich Road.

There will need to be area wide improvements to the walking and cycling networks and more localised road and bus priority improvements, but these will depend on the form of development in the growth areas and the continued work on the Norwich Area Transportation Strategy.

A new secondary school is needed to serve the new community in the north east. The form and location of secondary provision for growth in the south and south west is yet to be determined. The scale of growth in the other locations means the secondary provision will need to be met by enhancing existing facilities in Long Stratton and off-site expansion in Wymondham. New primary schools would be provided within the housing developments.

Utilities such as water and electricity are critical and development cannot take place without them. There are different delivery mechanisms for these and the Joint Core Strategy does not need to shape their delivery as it does for education and transport. A wide range of services and infrastructure is needed to create a balanced community. These are not all listed above. Facilities such as healthcare will be required with large scale growth but in some circumstances development can start before all the new facilities are provided.

Description of major growth locations

Old Catton, Sprowston, Rackheath, Thorpe St Andrew growth triangle

This location will deliver an urban extension extending either side of the Norwich Northern Distributor Road. Part of this location is being promoted as an eco-community. The eco-community proposals set out specific principles for that area. Should eco community proposals not continue the strategy will still promote growth at the same scale to the north east of Norwich. Delivery is dependent on the implementation of the Norwich Northern Distributor Road. The structure of the local geography suggests that this new community will take the form of a series of inter-related new villages or quarters and will include:

• at least 7,000 dwellings (rising to a total of at least 10,000 dwellings after 2026)

• a district centre based around an accessible "high street" and including a new library, education and health facilities. The development will also require new local centres.

• a new secondary school with an initial phase to open within the first 5 years. To facilitate early provision the early phases of development will concentrate on family housing.

• Retention of existing important greenspaces and significant levels of heathland re-creation to provide stepping stones to link Mousehold Heath to the surrounding countryside. Historic parkland will be conserved.

• bus rapid transit to the city centre possibly via Salhouse Road and Gurney Road and a choice of safe and direct cycle routes to the centre.

• safe and direct cycle and pedestrian routes, and orbital bus services, to Broadland Business Park, Rackheath employment area, Airport employment areas

• a new rail halt at Rackheath

• permeability and community integration across the Norwich Northern Distributor Road and with existing communities.

Wymondham

This location will deliver expansion of the urban area to include:

• 2,200 dwellings located in a number of sites around the town whilst maintaining the strategic gap to the north and northeast

• expansion of the town centre of a quality that will retain and enhance the distinctive character of the existing historic centre

• extensive levels of green infrastructure to create a "Ketts Country" pastoral landscape of grass, wood, hedgerow and wetland habitat. This will also strengthen the importance and role of the Tiffey valley, the landscape setting of the town and strategic gaps, particularly towards Hethersett

• enhanced bus services to the city centre with potential for bus rapid transit also serving Hethersett and/or Cringleford, and to maximising the use of rail connections

• safe and direct cycle and pedestrian routes to key locations in and around Wymondham including the town centre, the railway station and Gateway 11, and enhanced longer distance cycle access to Hethel, Hethersett and Norwich Research Park.

• Secondary education provision remains to be resolved.

Hethersett

This location will deliver more modest growth to the existing village to include:

• About 1,000 dwellings located whilst maintaining the strategic gap to the north and south west

• expansion of the existing village services

• possible expansion of secondary education provision

• New primary school provision as part of new development

• enhanced bus services to the city centre with potential for bus rapid transit also serving Wymondham and/or Cringleford,

• safe and direct cycle and pedestrian routes around Hethersett and enhanced longer distance cycle access to Hethel, Wymondham, Norwich Research Park and the Hospital

• Green Infrastructure to provide enhanced public access to the countryside

Cringleford

This location will deliver more modest growth to the existing village to include:

• About 1,200 dwellings

• expansion of the existing services nearby

• new primary school provision as part of new development

• enhanced bus services to the city centre with potential for bus rapid transit also serving Wymondham, Hethersett and Norwich Research Park

• safe and direct cycle routes to Hethel, Norwich Research Park and the Hospital

• Green Infrastructure to provide enhanced public access to the countryside

• Secondary education provision remains to be resolved

Long Stratton

Growth at this location is planned to deliver a Long Stratton bypass, and therefore deliver local environmental improvements by removing through traffic. The final number of new homes built in Long Stratton is intended to fund a bypass and also provide a range of community infrastructure. It will include:

• around 1,800 dwellings

• enhanced facilities and access to the town centre

• secondary school provision will be provided by the expansion of the existing school

• investment in strategic green Infrastructure corridor

• public transport improvements including priority at the A140/A47 junction and an enhanced route to the city centre

• safe and direct cycle and pedestrian access to the town centre and employment

• additional local employment opportunities.

Easton / Costessey

This location is dependent on capacity expansion of the A47 Longwater junction and will provide:

• around 1,000 dwellings

• enhanced local services

• enhanced public access to the Yare valley including Bawburgh lakes

• bus rapid transit to the city centre via Dereham Road

• enhanced bus and cycle links Norwich Research Park and to secondary schools

• safe and direct cycle and pedestrian access to Longwater employment and retail area and the Bowthorpe employment area

• Secondary education provision remains to be resolved.

Contingency and flexibility will be provided by efforts to encourage further brownfield opportunities and bringing forward larger sites more quickly. The strategy also identifies 3,000 dwellings in the Old Catton, Sprowston, Rackheath, Thorpe St Andrew growth triangle for the post 2026 period.