EDP: Application for 43 homes Rackheath – Parker Planning Services

Read the EDP Press Article Here: Application for dozens of homes at Rackheath Home Farm

Background     A Hybrid Application for a Residential Development, near Norwich, Norfolk. Outline Permission for up to 43 Dwellings and Change of Use of the land for Public Open Space & Connecting Cycle/Pedestrian Routes.  Here Parker Planning Services supplied a number of specialist reports and assessments (see below for full details).  These included heritage assessments, Archaeological Desk Based Assessments, Topographical Surveys and more, working closely with Studio 35 Architecture & Building Designers.

Proposal         The proposal would provide a high-quality development including up to 43 new homes of which 12 would be affordable homes. The proposal would result in a very low density, at approximately 10 homes per hectare (based on the housing site area) when in normal situations 25 homes per hectare could be expected. The rationale behind the low density of the development is to allow a rural village feel to the site, retaining and enhancing landscape features and to provide plentiful open space and gaps in between properties which would be situated within generous plot sizes.

The proposal will be truly unique and offer fantastic community benefits by way of the provision of low density, high quality housing. It includes extensive open space parkland and connecting walking/cycling routes through the site.

Our advice      Extensive work has been undertaken to support the plans put forward as part of this application, which included:

• Detailed Site Layout Plan
• Suggested House Type Designs
• Architectural Visualisations
• Connectivity Plan
• Design and Access Statement
• Full Ecology services and Reports
• Archaeology Desk Based Assessment and consultation with the Council Archaeological Unit
• Heritage Assessment. Our heritage impact statement states any less than substantial harm to the significance of the historic parkland would be outweighed by the delivery of high quality design in accordance with planning policy.
• Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment
• Landscape Planting Enhancement Scheme
• Transport Assessment and Consultation with Norfolk County Highways
• Topographical Surveys
• Flood Risk & Drainage Assessments, including percolation testing. The flood risk assessment states the site is a low probability flood zone.

The application site is, in effect, allocated for development by way of Policy GT2 of the Broadland District Area Action Plan and support can be gained through the ambitions of Rackheath Neighbourhood Plan. We also importantly acknowledged that the council have not ‘confirmed’ their 5 year Housing Land Supply and as such is left open to challenge.