Acting on behalf of Smith of Honingham (Developments), Alan Rawlings Architectural Design of Bawdeswell, in a submission to Broadland District Council’s latest preferred options consultation, suggests that the 1.13-hectare site will have no impact on traffic volumes on Aylsham Road and would “offer a viable alternative, addressing concerns expressed in the parish about road safety in proximity to the school”.
 
Located on the eastern side of a recently completed residential development, the proposed site adjoins, but currently lies outside, the suggested present village development boundary plan.
 
However, Chapel Street residents Clementina and Paul Sutton say the developer does not seem too clear about the exact number of houses, “but is clear that sewage disposal and rainwater runoff will run directly into the existing sewer system. “This is already overloaded, so much so that new houses opposite the winery had to have septic tanks built because this same existing sewer was not capable of taking any more sewage.”
 
When asked, the developer could not state whether the new development would consist of nearer 20 houses or nearer 80 houses, the Suttons claim. However, a spokesperson from Broadland District Council’s planning department confirmed that, as Fred Tuddenham Drive is a “type 6” road with a maximum of 25 houses, only up to an additional 14 new homes could be built alongside the existing 11 if outline planning consent was granted.
 
The Suttons continued: “This proposed site is outside [Broadland’s] development area and is also a greenfield site. There are brownfield sites in the village that would be better suited to such a development because of better access and sewage disposal.”
 
They point out that traffic on Chapel Street is already heavy, “so any further development will not help the situation to say the least. Every day, large lorries delivering to the winery mount the pavements to allow them access to pass. Surely pavements are for pedestrians, and sooner or later there will be a serious accident because of this excessive traffic load on such a narrow street.”
 
The Joint Core Strategy identifies Cawston as a Service Village capable of accommodating 10-20 new dwellings up to 2026. Several sites in the village have been shortlisted or proposed as alternatives. Broadland has identified 0.75 hectares to the east of Gayford Road (PO17-01) as its “preferred option” to build around 20 houses. This site is said to be “within reasonable walking distance of the majority of services in the village”.
 
If you have any views about this outline planning application, please contact Broadland District Council’s Planning Department and ask for details (application reference 20131212) or email Charles Judson, Planning Officer, with your comments. Although the official deadline for comments has now passed, the planners said they may be willing to consider further views submitted as soon as possible.