MAIN PLANNING ISSUES IN SAHAM TONEY
Listed below are the key issues Saham Toney faces with regard to development constraints. The Plan's policies attempt to address each of them, but in addition to that those involved in the planning process should be aware of them as they give background context to the policies
The following guidelines should be followed when assessing or deciding planning applications in the Neighbourhood Area:
- Uncontrolled, poorly managed or unsympathetic development is likely to harm highly sensitive local landscape and settlement character, and is to be avoided.
- There are no shops or other services in the Neighbourhood Area and the nearest are significantly further than the recommended maximum walking distance. This together with further constraint on roads and pedestrian pavements means that the presence of services in Watton shall not be considered as demonstrating the ability of Saham Toney to sustain development.
- Education facilities in the Neighbourhood Area are limited without travelling well beyond Breckland's maximum walking distance. This shall be taken into account when considering the location of proposed developments.
- Housing needs for the Neighbourhood Area differ significantly from those for Breckland as a whole and must be specifically taken into account when considering development proposals.
- The rural road network, public transport provision and the lack of paved footpaths in the Neighbourhood Area combine to place both capacity and safety constraints on the level of new development that can be supported.
- Surface water flooding is the key flood risk in the Neighbourhood Area. No development that adds individually or cumulatively to that risk shall be permitted unless it includes robust and substantiated mitigation measures.
- The suitability and constrained capacity of any proposed development site shall be rigorously assessed against the parish's development constraints.