• Vattenfall Sub-station update

    Mrs Sue Fatch-Lovesey, Local Community Liaison Officer, Vattenfall, addressed this Council on 05 March and delivered a presentation updating Members and public of the recent amendments to Vattenfall’s proposed development. The presentation is available to view here.

    Vattenfall Sub-station proposal update March 2018      This presentation contains a link to a GIS live link map – simply click on the map to be taken to the live map that will allow zoom into detail.

    Following the presentation, individual councillors were invited to ask questions.  Here is a summary of these questions:

    • A number of affected landowners have provided written statements confirming they have not been consulted with regard to possible access and use of their land. Why have they not been consulted in this process?
    • Vattenfall were offered two alternative sites, both of which were identified as viable sites by an independent consultant. There appears to have been no adequate investigation by Vattenfall of their potential. Why not?
    • The proposed site is on private land, so very difficult to see the potential impact. The chosen site is on the highest ground. Photomontages made available by Vattenfall were mis-leading and too small to provide adequate representation of the identified site. It was stated that the consultation has been ‘a shambles and should be started again and run professionally.
    • It was considered that the most recent newsletter does not provide adequate information relating to the sub-station at Necton.
    • Will the proposed right hand filter lane at Spicer’s Corner be a permanent feature or just for the period of construction?
    • The existing Dudgeon site entrance (where National Grid is located) had a traffic management plan which did not operate as designed. (Traffic arriving from the east did not adhere to the route and simply used a layby to turn, causing congestion.) Will this site, which will be used for the National Grid extension works, have the same traffic management plan?
    • This proposed site may be a magnet for terrorism and it is designed to be un-manned. What provision will Vattenfall establish to protect from terrorism?
    • Arable crops, which will be up against the site’s fence lines are a significant fire risk. Has this risk been assessed?
    • Is this revised proposal for Necton larger than originally suggested during consultation in the summer of 2017?

    Twelve members of the public were present at this meeting and a some of these people asked the following questions:

    • A resident expressed concern about the potential noise levels from the proposed development and it did not seem that the research on noise to-date is sufficient.
    • Concern also expressed about the lack of consideration in the proposal of the longer-term impact in terms of health, flooding, etc.
    • A resident asked if some of this infrastructure could be located underground.
    • A resident asked that the landscape views take a wider aspect.
    • Another resident expressed concern about potential light pollution.
    • A resident asked what advantage is HVDC to Necton, given the main noise emitter; the transformers will be located outside.

    Some of these questions received initial responses at the meeting and there was a commitment to respond in full to Council following the meeting.  Further updates will be published.

  • Breckland Local Plan submitted to Planning Inspectorate for consideration

    Notification of submission of Breckland Local Plan and Policies Maps – The Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012: Submission of documents and information to the Secretary of State (Regulation 22)

    In accordance with Regulation 22(3) of the above, Breckland Council gives notice that it has submitted the Breckland Local Plan and Policies Maps to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on 30th November 2017 for independent examination.

    In accordance with section 20 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended) Inspector Jonathan Manning BSc (Hons) MA MRTPI has been appointed to conduct the examination to determine whether the above-named Local Plan is sound.

    Breckland District Council have appointed a Programme Officer, based at the Breckland Council Office, as the point of contact and to organise and administer the examination process under the guidance of the appointed Inspector:

    Charlotte Brennan

    Programme Officer

    Direct dial: 01362 656296

    [email protected]

    The Local Plan submission documents, representations and supporting documents can be viewed on the council’s website: https://www.breckland.gov.uk/localplanexamination. Hard copies of the Local Plan submission documents, supporting evidence and copies of the representations made during the pre-submission consultation are available for inspection at the Breckland Council Offices during standard opening hours 9am-5pm:

    The Submission documents consist of the following:

    Local Plan: Regulation 19 Pre-Submission Publication
    Local Plan Policies Map
    Sustainability Appraisal Pre-Submission
    Habitats Regulations Assessment
    Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report
    Issues and Options Consultation
    Issues and Options Sustainability Appraisal
    Preferred Directions: Part 1 Policies
    Preferred Directions: Part 2 Sites
    Part 1 Sustainability Appraisal
    Part 2 Sustainability Appraisal
    Preferred Sites and Settlement Boundaries consultation
    Interim Sustainability Appraisal
    Consultation Statement
    Consultation Statement Appendices
    Statement of Community Involvement
    Local Development Scheme
    Duty to Co-Operate Statement
    PAS Soundness Checklist
    PAS Legal Checklist
    Local Plan Pre-Submission Comments and Response Schedule
    Equality Impact Assessment
    Annual Monitoring Report (2015/16)
    Minor Modifications
    Arrangement for inspection of submission documents

    Electronic copies of the submission documents together with hard copies of the Pre-Submission Publication (including accompanying Sustainability Appraisal) are available for inspection at the following locations;

    ATTLEBOROUGH:

    Attleborough Library, 31 Connaught Road, Attleborough, Norfolk, NR17 2BW: https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/libraries-local-history-and-archives/libraries/your-local-library/locations-and-opening-times/attleborough-library

    Community and Enterprise Centre, Church Street, Attleborough, Norfolk, NR17 2AH: https://www.breckland.gov.uk/visitus

    DEREHAM:

    Breckland Council, Elizabeth House, Walpole Loke, Dereham, Norfolk, NR19 1EE:
    https://www.breckland.gov.uk/

    Dereham Library, 59 High Street, Dereham, Norfolk, NR19 1DZ: https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/libraries-local-history-and-archives/libraries/your-local-library/locations-and-opening-times/dereham-library

    SWAFFHAM:

    Swaffham Library, The Pightle, Swaffham, Norfolk, PE37 7DF: https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/libraries-local-history-and-archives/libraries/your-local-library/locations-and-opening-times/swaffham-library

    Town Hall, London Street, Swaffham, Norfolk, PE37 7DQ: http://www.swaffhamtowncouncil.gov.uk/community/swaffham-town-council-12923/town-hall-facilities/

    THETFORD:

    Thetford Library, Raymond Street, Thetford, Norfolk, IP24 2EA: https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/libraries-local-history-and-archives/libraries/your-local-library/locations-and-opening-times/thetford-library

    Breckland House, St Nicholas Street, Thetford, Norfolk,  IP24 1BT: https://www.breckland.gov.uk/visitus

    WATTON:

    Watton Library, George Trollope Road, Watton, Norfolk, IP25 6AS: https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/libraries-local-history-and-archives/libraries/your-local-library/locations-and-opening-times/watton-library

    Wayland House, High Street, Watton, IP25 6AR: https://www.breckland.gov.uk/visitus
    Copies of the other evidence base submission documents can also be made available for inspection at the Council Offices upon request.

    At this stage the Local Plan is not subject to consultation. Representations received during the pre-submission consultation can be viewed on the Council’s consultation portal http://consult.breckland.gov.uk/portal.

    The Breckland Local Plan will now be subjected to an independent examination to be conducted by the Planning Inspectorate. This is a continuous process running from the date of submission through to the receipt of the appointed Planning Inspector’s Report. Part of this process will involve hearing sessions where those invited to attend will have the opportunity to respond to matters raised by the appointed Planning Inspector. Once confirmed, all details relating to the examination process will be advertised and made available online.

    For further information please contact Breckland Planning Policy Team on 01362 656870

  • Vanguard Wind Farm – Necton Parish Council’s response to Statutory Consultation

    Necton Parish Council considered their response to the statutory pre-application consultation at their meeting on 04 December 2018.  It was agreed to engage within the consultation and provide comment on matters contained within the Preliminary Environment Impact Report, published by Vattenfall.

    Read this Council’s consultation response here.

  • A new planning application for the Old Diner site

    A new application for the old diner site has been received by Breckland Council and is now published via their planning application portal.

    The application is for a new petrol station/shop to be run by the Co-op and a new Costa Coffee shop with an additional drive-through facility.

    This application will be listed on the Parish Council’s November meeting agenda and we welcome your comments on this proposal.

  • Breckland’s Local Plan – what it means for Necton

    Breckland Council’s emerging Local Plan is in its ‘pre-submission’ period – where people are invited to consult on the ‘soundness’ of the plan.  Follow this link to read the full plan and associated documents.

    Following extensive consultation with residents of Necton, your Parish Council has worked with Breckland Council Officers to agree a development strategy for the village that provides for new dwellings on suitable sites over the lifetime of this plan, to 2036.

    Follow this link to see the map of Necton that is included within the emerging Local Plan.

    The map shows sites that already have planning permission (as orange sites) and sites that are earmarked for development (as purple sites) to support the remaining need.

    The emerging Local Plan is nearing the end of its journey and if agreed by the Planning Inspector will soon become the policy that will shape and inform development within the District for the next twenty years.  Follow this link to see the timescale for the rest of this journey.

    Unfortunately, this is a challenging period for Breckland Council as they are unable to demonstrate a 5-year housing land supply, and so as the Local Plan is yet to be enshrined as legal policy, the District faces speculative development applications.   This Parish Council will be working hard to protect this village’s development strategy and welcomes residents’ consultation and comments on planning matters – a regular item on our monthly Parish Council meetings.

     

  • Breckland Local Plan: pre-submission publication & consultation

    Breckland Local Plan

    Pre-submission Publication

    The Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012: Publication of a Local Plan (Regulation 19)

    Following the Regulation 18 consultation of the Preferred Directions in January/February 2016 and the Preferred Site Options and Settlement Boundaries in September/October 2016, Breckland Council has considered the responses and the evidence collected and has prepared what it now considers to be a sound document which conforms to national policy. The document sets out local planning policies applying to the District  and provides positive housing and employment allocations for the District’s Key Settlements of Attleborough and Thetford, three Market Towns of Dereham, Swaffham and Watton and its Local Service Centres for the plan period (to 2036). The document is accompanied by an updated Policies Map and is inviting representations on its ‘soundness’.

    The document will be made available under the Regulation 19 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Development) (England) 2012. Representations can be made on the Pre-submission Documents during the publication period from Monday 21st August 2017 and ending at 4pm on Monday 2nd October 2017.

    Making Representations

    During this 6 week consultation any representations made must refer to the tests of soundness against which the Pre-submission Publication is assessed.  The representations will ultimately be considered by an Inspector appointed by the Secretary of State to carry out an Examination in Public of the Pre-submission Publication and updated Policies Maps.

    The Statement of the Representations procedure enclosed explains how to make a representation. All representations must be made using the official forms.

    Breckland would ask you to submit your representations online using e-consultation system http://consult.breckland.gov.uk/portal
    Alternatively, representation forms can be downloaded as a word document and associated guidance notes are also available to download from the Council’s website www.breckland.gov.uk/pre-submission-publication
    Completed representation forms to be e-mailed to the [email protected]
     

     

  • The refined search area for Vattenfall sub-stations moves further away from Necton

    On Wednesday evening (14 June 2017), Vattenfall delivered a presentation to representatives of Necton Parish Council of the collated findings from their last consultation event ahead of this information becoming public by the end of this week.  It was an opportunity to understand the detail behind the findings and discuss how to progress the effective engagement of the whole community as consultations continue to define the final proposed location.

    Vattenfall recognise that landscape and noise are two key concerns for residents at Necton and this has informed their refinement of the sub-station search area, now condensed to an area north east of the village, moving it further away from St Andrew’s Lane.  The Parish Council stated that a location in the northwest section of the revised search area would maximise the topography of the land, helping to reduce visual impact.  Vattenfall confirmed that access would not be via St Andrew’s Lane or Ivy Todd.

    The Parish Council will be working with Susan Falch-lovesey, Local Liaison Officer for Vattenfall, to enable the widest participation of our community through the next part of the statutory consultation.   This work will begin within the next 4-6 weeks.

    With regards to potential benefits to the village, Vattenfall, in response to earlier consultation, have already had initial discussions with Highways England regarding improvements on the A47, Necton junction.   Vattenfall have committed to pursuing this matter further starting with arranging a meeting with Highways England, Parish Council and local and national government elected members.

    Vattenfall have published a newsletter, which is currently being distributed to households across the entire project area.  Expect your copy during the next few days.  Spare copies will be available from the Parish Office later next week.

     

    Further information about Vattenfall, Norfolk Vanguard can be found on their website. http://norfolkvanguard.vattenfall.co.uk/

    See also their FAQ document, which has been updated this month: http://norfolkvanguard.vattenfall.co.uk/sites/default/files/2017-06/June%202017%20FAQs%20Norfolk%20Vanguard%20and%20Norfolk%20Boreas.pdf

  • Planning applications to be considered by Parish Council on 8 May, 7.30 pm

    The following applications will be considered by the Parish Council at their May meeting, 8 May, 7.30 pm.  Members of the public are welcome to attend and share their comments with Council, before decisions are made.

    3PL/2017/0487/HOU Mr & Mrs Cull, 23 Chantry Lane Proposed entrance porch, rear & side extensions.
    3PL/2017/0069/F

    Mr Holley, Old Coach House, St Andrew’s Lane

     

    Expansion of Existing Tourist Accommodation Development to Install 4no. Luxury Timber Clad Holiday Lodges.
     
    3PL/2017/0490/HOU Mr & Mrs Wilson, 37 Elizabeth Drive single storey rear extension.
    3PL/2017/0456/HOU Mr Atkinson, 38 Oaks Drive Extension to bungalow to infill space between garage and property.
    3PL/2017/0529/F Mr  Edge, 14 Mill Street Construction of 2no. dwellings with ancillary garages.

    3PL/2017/0536/HOU

     

     

    Mr & Mrs Standing, 7 Tun’s Road Loft conversion, Extended porch, demolition of conservatory and replace with extension and attached garage to the side

    Also, the Council have been invited to provide their view on a proposed mobile phone mast installation by Valcon Telecom Ltd. The proposed site is on Hall Farm, Tuns Road. This follows on from a previously submitted planning application which was withdrawn by the applicant prior to a decision by Breckland Council.  This pre-application proposal will be considered by Council on Monday evening.

  • Breckland Local Plan, update from 3 February meeting

    The (Breckland Council) Local Plan Working Group met on 3 February 2017 to consider and make recommendations on the next stages of the Local Plan.   Cllrs Matthews & Hayton and the Clerk represented the Parish Council at this meeting.  Cllr Matthews spoke to the panel, clarifying that the view of Necton is that no development is acceptable on sites alongside Ramm’s Lane.  A written report  from the Parish Council presented to the Working Group explained the Council’s preferred position in terms of site and housing allocation.

    It was clarified at this meeting that in the final submission to the planning inspectorate, only the agreed preferred sites will be listed and not the full range of preferred and alternate sites contained in consultation documents.

    The LPWG recommended that officers continue to work with this Parish Council in the preparation of the Necton element of the Local Plan.  Cllr Wilkin attended this meeting and voiced his support of the Parish’s presentation.

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