Joint Core Strategy Public consultation Reg25

Appendix 3 - option three

Major growth to the North East of Norwich inside and outside the Norwich Northern Distributor Road and to the south of Norwich in the Swainsthorpe, Mulbarton and Swardeston area and moderate growth at Wymondham and Long Stratton

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 (NNDR) which will also improve Postwick junction. Completion of a bypass is a prerequisite for the scale of growth identified in Long Stratton.

To facilitate the necessary public transport access from the south will need to be bus priority improvements on the approach to the A140/A47 Harford junction and B1113. Within the Norwich Southern Bypass, further bus priority will need to be introduced along the A140 Ipswich Road. Growth at Wymondham 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.

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.

A new secondary school is needed to serve the new community in the north east. The form and location secondary provision for growth in the south 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.

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 Distibutor Road and with existing communities.

South Sector (Mangreen / Swardeston / Mulbarton / Swainsthorpe area)

This location will deliver a new 'country town' providing

• 4,500 dwellings (with the potential to expand 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.

• new strategic business park of about 50 hectares to the north of the area to ensure access to the A140 and A47.

• a new secondary school with an initial phase to open within the first five years to serve new and existing communities

• enhanced levels of green infrastructure

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

• safe and direct cycle routes to the city centre, the Norwich Research Park

• traffic will be managed to reduce impacts on the network of small roads to the south and west of the area.

Wymondham

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

• 2,000 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

• expanded secondary school provision, possibly through a free-standing sixth form 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 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 1,000 dwellings at Costessey and Easton

• enhanced local services at Easton

• secondary school provision will be provided by a combination of schools in the area at Costessey, Hethersett and Earlham. 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 to 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

Long Stratton

This location is dependent on the Long Stratton bypass and will provide:

• around 1,500 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.

(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 4,000 dwellings (just over 2 years supply) in large new communities for the post 2026 period).