Joint Core Strategy Public consultation Reg25

Appendix 1 - option one

Major growth at Wymondham and Hethersett on the A11 corridor and to the North East of Norwich inside and outside the Norwich Northern Distributor Road

Key Dependencies

To implement the option significant highway improvements are required at the Longwater (A1074), Watton Road (B1108) and Thickthorn (A11) junctions on the A47 Norwich Southern Bypass) together with provision of the Norwich Northern Distributor Road which will also improve Postwick junction.

The primary public transport route from the south west will be along Newmarket road. In addition bus priority measures are needed along Hethersett lane crossing the A47 and linking with the Norwich Research Park, Hospital and University, supported by 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.

There will need to be 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.

New secondary schools are needed to serve the new communities in the north east, south west and Wymondham. The educational requirements of the remaining growth will be met by enhancing existing facilities. New primary schools would be provided within the housing developments.

Additional infrastructure will need to be provided to overcome the constraint on electricity supply to the Longwater area.

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 (NNDR). Delivery is dependent on the implementation of the NNDR. 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 6,000 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.

South West Sector (Hethersett/Little Melton area)

This location will deliver a new country town providing

• at least 4,000 dwellings (rising to a total of at least 7,000 dwellings after 2026)

• a town centre based around an accessible "high street" designed to serve the new community and the immediate locality and not to draw trade from a wider area. The town centre will include retail, service and employment provision, a new library, healthcare and education facilities. The development will also require new local centres and be complemented by enhanced facilities in the existing villages.

• a new secondary school with an initial phase to open within the first five years (possibly delivered through the relocation and expansion of Hethersett High School)

• a new small scale business park closely integrated with the town

• extensive levels of green infrastructure to create a "Ketts Country" pastoral landscape of grass, wood, hedgerow and wetland habitat. This will include a new country park and significant landscape buffers to provide a setting for the town and to maintain important strategic gaps and the settings of Norwich and Wymondham

• Sustainable Drainage System (SuDS) - the underlying geology suggests this will also provide wetland habitat

• bus rapid transit to the city centre possibly via Newmarket Road

• safe and direct cycle routes and local bus services to Norwich Research Park, Wymondham and Longwater

Wymondham

This location will deliver expansion of the urban area to include

• at least 4,000 dwellings (rising to a total of at least 5,000 after 2026) located predominantly to the south and east of the town to ensure best access to the town centre and railway station and to maintain 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

• 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

• 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

• bus rapid transit to the city centre and exploiting any opportunities to maximise 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.

West

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

• around 2,000 dwellings at Costessey and Easton

• a new local centre at Easton

• secondary school provision will be provided by a combination of schools in the area at Costessey, Earlham and new provision at the south west growth location. Additional opportunities may be also provided at Easton College

• Green Infrastructure to provide enhanced public access to the Yare valley including Bawburgh lakes

• bus rapid transit to the city centre via Dereham Road

• bus and cycle links Norwich Research Park and to secondary schools (including the SW growth location)

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

(NB additional dwellings total to 24,000 i.e. 1,000 more than required to provide for contingency and flexibility. Further contingency and flexibility will be provided by efforts to encourage further brownfield opportunities and bringing forward larger sites more quickly. The strategy also identifies 8,000 dwellings (4.4 years supply) in large new communities for the post 2026 period).