Sprowston neighbourhood planning Workshop draft report January 2012

neighbourhood planning workshop 1 2 Prince’s FounDation PROJECT REPORT CONTENTS

SECTIOn 1 INTRODUCTION 3 1.1 purpose of the workshop 3 1.2 the process 5

SECTIOn 2 KEY ISSUES STAKEHOLDER DAY OUTPUT 6

SECTIOn 3 THE STRATEGY creating hubs and reinforcing links 8

SECTIOn 4 SITE SPECIFIC PROPOSALS 11 4.1 “Wroxham road” to “sprowston high street” 11 4.2 “playing fields” to “sprowston green” 13 4.3 “social club” to “sprowston youth park” 15

SECTIOn 5 CONCLUSIONS towards delivery 16

APPENDIx A urban CONTEXT 18 THE PRINCE’S FOUNDATION APPENDIx B enviromental CONTEXT 20 for BUILDING COMMUNITY: APPENDIx C planning CONTEXT 22 TRANSFORMING LIVES through ENGAGING EDUCATING and EMPOWERING people APPENDIx D transpORT POLICIES 24 19—22 Charlotte Road APPENDIx E list OF STAKEHOLDER EVENT ATTENDEES 28 London EC2A 3SG United Kingdom APPENDIx F workshop PROGRAMME 27 E [email protected] T +44 (0) 20 7613 8500 F +44 (0) 20 7613 8599 www.princes-foundation.org

President: HRH The Prince of Wales A Company Limited by guarantee No. 3579567 Registered Charity No. 1069969 VAT No. 839 8984 44

sprowston neighbourhood planning workshop 1 first evening public session - results of the dots exercise the event was attended by residents from all areas of srpowston.

2 Prince’s FounDation PROJECT REPORT SECTION 1 INTRODUCTION

knowledge, highlight issues that should The Council’s key aspirations for the In January 2012 The be addressed by the Neighbourhood Neighbourhood Plan, which formed the Plan and provide direct input into the project brief for The Prince’s Foundation Prince’s Foundation emerging responses and proposals. and the workshop include: facilitated a community The results of these discussions Holistic planning; addressing the and joint design and planning work needs and aspirations of all sections planning workshop were collated and considered by the of the community and areas of Sprowston Prince’s Foundation team. Their in Sprowston, to recommendations were presented back Working across boundaries, to the public for discussion and feedback to account for the needs and help develop a at the final public session. aspirations of the neighbouring parishes of Old Catton, Thorpe St neighbourhood plan for The proposed recommendations form Andrew and Spixworth the basis for this report which should Assure the sustainability of the the area. be seen as the first step in developing a existing built-up area, not just new Neighbourhood Plan for Sprowston. It is development The Prince’s Foundation was approached expected that further work on the plan by Sprowston Town Council in Autumn will be led by the Town Council with Guarantee the good spatial and functional integration of the new 2011 to help develop a Neighbourhood support from Broadland District Council. Plan for the area. A programme of development on the northern fringe support was agreed as part of the The Brief Reinstating a sense of settlement “Communities and Neighbourhoods and community identity, which has in Planning” programme funded by Sprowston is part of the “Growth been lost as a result of the rapid The Department for Communities Triangle” at the northern edge expansion of and Local Government (DCLG). As a of Norwich, which is expected to Addressing the lack of certain Neighbourhood Planning Frontrunner, accommodate up to 7,000 new homes community facilities in the area and Sprowston is one of the first areas to 2026 (see Appendices for further agreeing the optimal location for in England to develop a statutory background information). them to ensure maximum benefit for Neighbourhood Plan under the new the community legislation. Some community engagement has Ensuring good design quality of already taken place in Sprowston Photo from the initial public the new developments in the area, ABOVE: The work facilitated by The Prince’s regarding the emerging growth to reflect the local character session ; throughout the workshop Maps Foundation focused on a community proposals, but the Town Council is and the community’s sustainability were displayed on the walls where local planning workshop, which took place keen for the proposals to be considered aspirations. residents could note down their views in from 17 to19 January 2012 at the holistically and to address the needs relation to a number of issues pertinent to Diamond Centre in Sprowston. and aspirations of the community. The the neighbourhood plan for the area Council views neighbourhood planning Over 130 people attended the workshop. as presenting a valuable opportunity All participants had an opportunity to do that and make sure that the to contribute their expertise and local community plays a leading role in shaping the future of the area. sprowston neighbourhood planning workshop 3 1.1 introduction the process

The workshop included a number of events to allow different groups of people to feed their views and ideas into the process. Below is a summary of each event. The workshop included two evening open public sessions, a day long event for invited key stakeholders and an internal design workshop. The detailed workshop programme and list of invited stakeholders are included in Appendices E and F. The event was facilitated by The Prince’s Foundation team of five built environment professionals. evening Public Session Stakeholder day groups were formed reflecting the 17 January 2012 18 January 2012 priorities expressed by the community.

The first public open session commenced The first full day of the workshop was In the second and third group sessions with a short introduction by Ken Lashley, dedicated to working with a group of stakeholders focussed on prioritising the Chairman of Sprowston Town Council, around 40 key stakeholders who were key issues into short, medium and long outlining the purpose of the workshop invited by the Town Council. term delivery prospects and developing and the Council’s aspirations for the spatial responses to them. Neighbourhood Plan for the area. The introductory presentations by the Town Council and The Prince’s Internal Design Workshop Next was a presentation by Ben Bolgar, Foundation, covered similar issues to 19 January 2012 Senior Design Director at the Prince’s those shown the previous evening. The Foundation. It included an overview of latter included an extended section The Prince’s Foundation’s internal neighbourhood planning legislation design session was dedicated to collating and DCLG-funded programme, an on design principles of sustainable neighbourhoods and a summary of the the results of the previous two days’ introduction to principles of sustainable events and developing recommendations development, key issues that formed key issues identified by the attendees at the public session the night before. to address the brief from the community. the brief for the workshop and the All outputs were summarised in the final proposed programme of events. During presentation. the questions and answers session that This was followed by a series of technical presentations and a Q&A session on the followed, the community provided further evening Public Session comments and input into the project brief. issues of transport, planning context, the history of the area and the development 19 January 2012 After this formal part of the evening, the proposals by Beyond Green, a developer The Prince’s Foundation reported back participants were asked to contribute working on behalf of a number of to the community on the workshop further views on some of the key issues landowners on the northern edge of results and its recommendations in a affecting Sprowston through a series of Sprowston. map based “dots exercises”. They also final presentation, as detailed on the wrote on post-it notes their top priorities The morning presentations served to following pages of this report. Again over for improvements in the area for inclusion brief all stakeholders on the key local 40 people attended this event and fed in the Negihbourhood Plan. issues before spliting into groups to back comments on the proposals. ABOVE: stakeholder day - plenary Feedback explore them in more detail and start session; stakeholder day - The “community Over 40 people attended this evening developing responses. Four thematic facilities” group event.

4 Prince’s FounDation PROJECT REPORT First evening public session results of the dots exercises

The majority of attendees identified green spaces, recreation and sports fields in the neighbourhood as their favourite areas. It was felt that one of the least favourite places in the parish was the Tesco complex in Blue Boar Lane. The same area was recognised as requiring improvements. interestingly while views were split over where the centre of sprowston was at the moment, many people thought that it should be by the church and the existing community facilities in church lane.

sprowston neighbourhood planning workshop 5 from public session SECTION 2 key issues stakeholder day outputs

During the stakeholder 1. movement/transport Wroxham Road is one of the main Short Term Improve pedestrian/cycle day the participants arterial routes in Sprowston, and due to crossings at Wroxam Rd roundabout; its long, straight nature, it is conducive better management of existing bus were split into four to high speed traffic. This renders the services in Wroxam Rd (coordinate road unfriendly for pedestrians. There timetables); extend opening hours for theme-based groups is an opportunity to develop an area of Park&Ride facilities; implement “no Wroxham Road as a street where traffic right turn” from Church Road onto utilising the feedback speeds are reduced and people feel Wroxham Road. from the dots and post- comfortable. medium Term Improve pedestrian/cycle Improvements to bus services (related crossings on Wroxam Road at junctions its exercises. to new developments) and the proposed with Cannerby Lane and Cozens-Hardy introduction of Rapid Bus Transit routes The key issues identified during the first Road; re-assess hours of operation for bus were identified as priorities. Many public session were: lane in Wroxam Road; better bus services comments were made on the need to in N. Walsham Road /Constitution 1. Movement - pedestrian routes, improve cycle routes and crossings along Hill (related to new developments); cycling, public transport, road the main radial routes towards the city improve pedestrian /cycle crossings traffic centre and make sure there are proper at Constitution Hill / Chartwell Road crossings over the proposed Northern 2. Housing - character, heritage, roundabout. typology, tenure mix, affordable Distributor Road once it is in place. housing Emerging ideas include narrowing of long Term Rapid bus transport routes in 3. Employment / town centre facilities the traffic lanes on Wroxham Road N Walsham and Salhouse Road (funded incl. library, pub, post office, retail near the Tesco Express to reduce traffic by CIL) - combined with improvements 4. Sports / leisure / schools / youth speed. This would allow for a new/ to cycle lanes; resolve traffic blockages facilities improved pedestrian crossings and nearer the city centre, to relieve pressure generate an opportunity for streetscape on radial routes through Sprowston; 5. Green infrastructure / parks / improvements, creating a better sense of with projected reduction in traffic walks. place. (due to NDR) further improve public To address these issues during the transport route, pedestrian environment A series of interventions for the short, stakeholder day four groups were and cycling in Wroxam Road; improve medium and long term were discussed. formed, each exploring one of cycle routes through residential areas of the themes listed above, with one Sprowston. (“community facilities”) group combining themes 4 and 5. Following is examples of the first group session outputs - the summary of the discussions during swot analysis of the neighbourhood the stakeholder group sessions.

6 Prince’s FounDation PROJECT REPORT 2. Housing/character/heritage 3. Employment & town centre Facilities 4. community facilities

The group thought that no major improvements to the Most local people work in Norwich; as a result there was a The need for careful planning of green spaces became evident existing housing stock of Sprowston were required, although keen interest in generating employment opportunities within with consideration given to environmental concerns and ‘green future developments should be sympathetic to pre-existing the boundaries of the parish, including incubator units for corridors’. The loss of farmland to development has resulted design language. A means of achieving this is through a new businesses. The creation of start-up businesses along in an appreciation for the open space and woodlands that characterisation study of the area to highlight the attributes Wroxham Road was discussed to help define the road as the remain. that make the area unique. A compilation of these details centre of Sprowston and create a network of mutually beneficial could facilitate a ‘pattern book’ for future development. /complementary retail and commenrcial outlets in this key A need for a proper flood risk assessment and management location. strategy was also highlighted. The provision of primary and With large-scale developments proposed to the north of secondary schools serving the new developments should be Sprowston, the integration of existing housing stock with new There are inadequate medical facilities in the area and a carefully considered and phased to avoid pressure on schools in developments was raised as an important issue. Many felt that simple means of adjusting this would be the creation of an surrounding areas. more opportunities should be provided for smaller developers integrated medical and dental facility. This is to be considered to build diverse, innovative, good quality homes on smaller in conjunction with the proposed provision in the new A series of short, medium and long-term actions were outlined. plots (“No more clone houses!”). Provision of affordable development on the northern fringe of Sprowston. homes for young people and homes for the elderly were seen as Short Term Implement lighting improvements throughout; important, as well as protecting the area’s green feel, with low A series of short, medium and long-term actions were outlined. identify green links/infrastructure to enhance country walks; development density and properly sized and laid out front and safe-guard open spaces against future development; identify back gardens. Short Term Identify a “zone of change” for start-up businesses, areas for future allotment use. potentially in redundant /adapted old buildings; make A series of short, medium and long term actions were outlined . proposals for apprenticeships to be introduced. medium Term Create a landscape and sculpture park.; implement a composting scheme; open up the existing Short Term Identify areas of different character, / carry out a medium Term If viable provide a bank and/or post office facility recreational areas to the wider community and group character assessment; identify underserved areas in the existing (possibly in conjunction with new developments); encourage community activities for mixed age groups; provide youth community; identify housing stock that could be adapted in revival of former corner shops; expand existing and create a facilities - a youth club or skateboard park. terms of sustainability, appearance/identity or use (for instance new integrated medical facility. along main routes where more attractive buildings or more long Term Develop a local heritage trail; create an urban commercial space may be desirable). long Term Create a “gateway block” at the entrance to the farm. new development in Church Lane including a social venue / medium Term Create a pattern book of designs and a strategy pub and a community centre with large multi-purpose space, for the revival of former corner shops and conversion/extension potentially combined with a school or sports club; create of existing homes; consider building details, street composition; commerical start-ups along Wroxham Road. create a demonstration house. long Term Keep main design documents (character assessment and pattern book)under review and revise when necessary; request developers to carry out character assessment of their proposals with local input; make sure all new developments adhere to pattern book and are integrated with existing communities.

sprowston neighbourhood planning workshop 7 SECTION 3 the strategy Creating neighbourhood hubs and reinforcing neighbourhood links

Following the stakeholder day The Prince’s Foundation collated and reviewed all comments, ideas and design responses that emerged in order to put together a coherent strategy that addresses the project brief and the concerns raised. Creating neighbourhood hubs

A holistic strategy for Sprowston emerged based on The playing fields adjoining the church of St. Mary’s the creation of three distinctive neighbourhood hubs, and St. Margaret’s are to become Sprowston Green each with a unique community “offer”: framed by new homes and the Church creating a more community/family centred and safer ‘Sprowston High Street’ - created by tranforming environment and acting as a “hinge” between the a section of ‘Wroxham Road’ at the heart of the existing and new parts of Sprowston. existing community

‘Sprowston Green’ - created by transforming the The creation of an activity/adventure park for the existing ‘Playing Fields’ in Church Lane / Barker’s area’s youth off Blue Boar Lane will provide a well Lane needed place for them to socialise and interact and link the existing and proposed developments in the ‘Sprowston Youth Park’ - created by north-east of Sprowston. transforming the existing ‘Social Club’ in Blue Boar Lane To galvanise the linkages between these places, improvements to the existing pedestrian routes are Transforming the central section of Wroxham Road proposed. This includes enhancing existing and into a ‘High Street’ means that its role changes from providing new pedestrian crossings at key locations in a through route to/from Norwich to the main retail Wroxham Road, Barker’s Lane and Blue Boar Lane and commercial hub for the neighbourhood. and incorporating traffic calming measures . other measures

These key proposals should be complemented by a number of measures / initiatives as suggested by the stakeholders who attended the workshop, such as:

Public realm improvements throughout the Improving pedestrian and cycle routes and neighbourhood, to include better lighting, street introducing pedestrian crossings at key de-cluttering, wayfinding locations

Monitoring of how new development proposals Close monitoring of all development proposals respond to the issues and needs identified during in terms of how they reflect / enhance local the workshop e.g. provision of an integrated character and sustainability aspirations of health facility, public transport improvements, the community; preparation of character overall strategy for sprowston with key flood management. assessment and pattern book. neighbourhood hubs in red

8 Prince’s FounDation PROJECT REPORT oad

sham R al oad N W

roxham R W

the network of key public spaces and streets including the proposed new community hubs

the dots and post-its exercises completed at the begining of the workshop indicated a neighbourhood with poor quality and traffic dominated public realm and no clear Sprowston neighbourhood centre. Green addressing these issues - improving the Connectivity and legibility of public spaces and identity of the neighbourhood were seen as essential components of the neighbourhood plan.

this is reflected in the proposed creation of Sprowston new neighbourhood hubs and improvements high street to the key links between them, combined with public transport, cycling routes , signage and public realm improvements throughout the youth neighbourhood. park

oad se R

salthou

sprowston neighbourhood planning workshop 9 ABOVE: proposed high street section and plan TOP RIGHT: AN EXAMPLE OF A SUCCESFUL HIGH STREET WITH ECHELON PARKING RIGHT: a photo of the central section of wroxham road as it is today... and what it could look like

10 Prince’s FounDation PROJECT REPORT SECTION 4 site specific proposals 4.1 “Wroxham Road” to “Sprowston High street”

Transforming Wroxham of local residents/land owners and their social hub. The creation of new retail Tesco, other shopkeepers buy-in, as it entails planting in private and commercial units will reduce the and their landlords Road to a High Street will front gardens. neighbourhood’s dependency on larger strengthen Sprowston as a supermarket chains and the retail offer Retail Units More retail and in the surrounding neighbourhoods sustainable neighbourhood commercial units are proposed along and Norwich City Centre. This will Sprowston High Street to help reinforce also generate greater employment and give it a sense of local the area as the new neighbourhood opportunities in the neighbourhood identity. centre, provide a greater retail and local and reflect the Joint Core Strategy’s services choice/create a “critical mass” regeneration aspirations. How it will be achieved and incorporate smaller business start-up units. The adoption of “a-road-to-a-street” There are a number of improvements approach pays homage to the evolving Parking and retail forecourt / initiatives that will help transform nature of Sprowston; from farmland to county council Wroxham Road into Sprowston High To achieve a High Street environment, a Norwich suburb, to a destination in its town council and highways Street. These primarily apply to the the creation of a forecourt to the retail own right. local residents units is required, including attractive section of Wroxham Road beween key delivery partners Cozens-Hardy Road and the cycle/foot landscaping, potentially public art/ The Delivery path leading from Wroxam Road (just local memorial and car parking. east of the junction with Blenheim Road) Efficient use of space can be achieved by The delivery of the High Street as towards Church Road. This section of incorporating echelon parking, which described above will require co-operation Wroxam Road also incorporates key bus will also contribute to traffic calming . between residents on Wroxham Road, stops for the neighbourhood. the Town Council, Tesco Express and The Benefits other shop keepers and their landlors, as well as the County Council’s highways Traffic calming It is proposed that The creation of a High Street around department. While the tree planting traffic calming measures, such as road the existing cluster of shops and local scheme might be funded by the Town narrowing at entrances to the area and services, will enhance the character of Council as a community project and at pedestrian crossings, central islands, Wroxham Road, building on what is carried out by the property owners raised table and cycle lanes. as well as a already there. speed limit of 20 mph are implemented in Wroxam Road, most of the public along wsection of Wroxham Road. The proposed measures will slow realm improvements around the shops through-traffic, thereby creating a could be funded by the shop keepers/ Tree Planting Another element of safer environment and reflecting the landlords. The County Council would the proposal is tree planting on both aspirations and policies outlined in both be responsible for the proposed traffic sides of the High Street, made possible the Joint Core Strategy and Norwich calming measures, using their road by the proposed road narrowing in this Area Transportation Strategy. The maintenance/improvement budget. location and large front gardens. This slowing down of traffic and introduction what Sprowston High Street could look like The project could be implemented over will greatly enhance the aesthetics of of safe crossings in convenient locations medium to long term, however some the High Street and differentiate it from will reduce car dependency and elements of it, such as tree planting and the rest of Wroxham Road. However the encourage residents to shop on foot, traffic calming could be good initial, implementation of this proposal will which will in turn create a pleasant depend on the successful engagement short term wins. sprowston neighbourhood planning workshop 11 B

A

new edge to green

existing pavilion redeveloped

new sports area

ABOVE: plan showing the proposed village green and the surrounding developments. The proposed land swap will allow the development of new homes overlooking the green from the west (on plot a) in exchange for more recreational area to the north of millennium wood (plot b); a photo of the green space at the entrance to church lane from barker’s lane today RIGHT: an illustration showing Sprowston village green

12 Prince’s FounDation PROJECT REPORT 4.2 site specific proposals “playing fields” to “sprowston green”

Sprowston Green will provide How it will be achieved The Benefits Beyond Green Developments a new sports and recreational creating a green Historic greens are The Sprowston Green proposal retains focus for the neighbourhood located in accessible, visible locations, the existing community uses and caters overlooked by buidings on all sides. To for the needs that will be generated by and reinforce its identity enhance the effectiveness of Sprowston the Beyond Green development. The Green as a safe, attractive, accessible Green will act as a focus and meeting through references to the community hub, it is proposed that a new place of the existing and communities. area’s history. residential development is located at its The proposed opening up of the green western edge with a new street linking space and incorporation of the Church The playing fields in Barker’s Lane / directly the Barker’s Lane/Cozens-Hardy of St. Mary’s and St. Margaret’s back into Church Lane are currently well used by Road junction with the proposed new the centre of the parish would reinforce the residents of Sprowston, for sports and development to the north of Millenium the historic nature of the neighbourhood dog walking. Together with the Church Wood. and result in this part of Sprowston Town Council and County council of St. Mary’s and St. Margaret’s, the regaining its historic role as a green and local residents This will create a safe, active western allotments and cemetery they represent spiritual centre of the village. key delivery partners important community asets. However due edge to the Green and substantially to their location on the edge of the built improve the access to and through the the Delivery up area and heavily planted hedges that area, without having to widen and/ surround them, these asets feel isolated or change the character of the historic This proposal can only be implemented from each other and the rest of the Church Lane (as previously proposed). through a close cooperation and community. negotiations between Beyond Green It is also proposed that the planting/ Developments, local residents (living A new village Green is proposed hedges along Church Lane and Barker’s around the playing fields), the Town to integrate and add to these Lane are removed or substantialy Council (who manage the playing fields) neighbourhood assets. It includes public reduced to allow visibility across the and the County Council (who own them). green spaces on both sides of Millenium Green and open up the views of the Wood, which is retained as a valued local Church, which is the most important The implementation timeframe will asset. These spaces are to be used of historic asset in the neighbourhood. depend on Beyond Green’s programme - recreation, sports and outdoor events. this should be seen as a medium to long The existing sports pavillion is retained Land Swap To facilitate the term project. and extended to incorporate improved development on the western edge of facilities and a community hall with a the Green, a land swap will be required large indoor events space. with the proposed Beyond Green development, as illustrated by the plan to an example of a church overlooking a village green By accommodating non-retail the right. This will provide a substantial neighbourhood activities, Sprowston public open space within the new Green will complement the commercial/ development north of Millenium Wood. retail offer of Sprowston High Street.

sprowston neighbourhood planning workshop 13 Sprowston Green

Sprowston high street Sprowston youth park

ABOVE: possible activities in the youth park RIGHT: location of the youth park

14 Prince’s FounDation PROJECT REPORT 4.3 site specific proposals “social club” to “sprowston youth park”

Creating a major new youth How it will be achieved the Delivery Gurney Trust facility inSprowston is The proposed Youth Park site is located The development of the Youth Park will important not only for the at the edge of the existing wooded area involve cooperation between the owner (The Plantations - much valued and used of the land to the north of Blue Boar existing residents, but also by the community) and at the contact Lane - Gurney Trust - and the developers zone with the new development to the working on their behalf, the Local for any young families that north. Planning Authority and the existing may relocate to the area in the Social Club’s management - the County Proposed uses could include a Council. The project could be delivered future. playground for younger children, as as part of the S106 contributions by the well as adventure park type activities proposed developments on the Gurney Lack of youth facilities in the area for teenagers, such as zip wire, cycling, Trust’s land. is seen by the community. as one of wall climbing, etc combined with indoor county council local authority the key issues to be addressed by the youth activity space. These can be The timeframe for delivery will depend key delivery partners Neighbourhood Plan for Sprowston. combined with cycling/walking facilities on how quickly an agreeement can be This issue will only become more in the surrounding woods, extending reached between the parties and the critical once new developments on the the youth acitivity zone and the potential developers’ overal programme. It is likely neighbourhood’s northern edge, which range of activies. To make this happen, to be a medium term project, although are expected to include many families putting in place new, safe and convenient the work on some of the associated with children, are completed. pedestrian / cycle crossings in Blue Boar improvements, such as the new road Lane will be crucial. crossings and improved public transport The proposed creation of a Youth Park access to the site, could commence early. in Blue Boar Lane, at the site of the The proposed location surrounded existing Social Club, emerged during by woods/open space is well suited to the workshop as a response to the the type of activities proposed and will observed need. This was prompted by minimise any negative impact, such as the observation made by the workshop noise, that the proposed activities may participants that the existing social club’s have on the surrounding area. lease is to expire soon and that the land owner is considering the future use of The Benefits the site. Sprowston Youth Park will provide a well needed location for the young people of Sprowston and the wider area to convene. It will also serve as another bridge between the existing and new communities of Sprowston. an example of possible activity in the youth park

sprowston neighbourhood planning workshop 15 16 Prince’s FounDation PROJECT REPORT SECTION 5 conclusions towards delivery

OPPOSITE: a map of sprowston showing delivery Next Steps its green spaces and The strategy responds to the linkages The implementation of the This report does not constitute project brief as follows: proposals described in this a Neighbourhood Plan, but holistic planning - by creating three new functional and spatial integration report will depend on the can inform the formulation community hubs, each with a different of the new developments - by locating cooperation of many delivery of a Neighbourhood Plan. offer, providing a holistic response to neighbourhood hubs between the new the community’s social, economic and and old parts of Sprowston, which will partners, as outlined with Further work on the Plan will environmental needs and characteristics encourage sharing of facilities and each of the hub proposals. The be led by Sprowston Town community ‘dialogue’ through daily use; working across boundaries - by by proposing new physical links with the delivery should be coordinated Council with the support of locating new facilities in accessible new developments locations and creating convenient and led by the Town Council. the Local Authority. and safe links between the hubs, that settlement and community identity The three hub proposals were carefully Alongside the further design work on the make them accessible from the old and - by creating new focal points for the considered to ensure delivery in the proposals, a detailed delivery plan should new parts of Sprowston, as well as the neighbourhood, which did not exist absence of significant public sector be developed as the next step in taking surrounding parishes before and proposing enhancements funding. In each case there is a leading forward the community aspirations. that will improve the attractiveness and improve sustainability of the existing private sector delivery partner (Tesco/ The Town Council should commence distinctiveness of the area; by enhancing other shop keepers for the High Stret, discussions and negotiations with the built-up area - by introducing measures heritage aspect of the neighbourhood that will encourage walking and cycling; Beyond Green for Sprowston Green and key development partners, based on the by creating local hubs offering a range of addressing the lack of certain Gurney Trust’s developers for the Youth conversations held with these partners community facilities, which will reduce community facilities - by enhancing Park), who will be working with affected during the workshop and the proposals the area’s dependence on facilities existing and introducing new community local residents and the relevant public outlined in this report. outside the neighbourhood and increase facilities such as a community hall and sector land owner / existing facility It is suggested that a working group is its economic resilience; by creating new youth park manager. formed by the Town Council to lead the facilities and hubs that will enhance work on the Neighbourhood Plan and its social cohesion ensuring design quality of new developments - by proposing that a implementation. character appraisal and pattern book are The Prince’s Foundation is keen to keep produced and a monitoring mechanism in touch with the Sprowston community put in place to make sure all new and discuss how it could provide further development proposals adhere to them. input into the development of the Neighbourhood Plan and its delivery.

sprowston neighbourhood planning workshop 17 appendix a urban context

Around 125,000 people live Urban development of norwich urban development of sprowston within the city boundary The configuration of the River Wensum The first Sprowston Hall was built in of Norwich, but including and the marshy land to the east meant 1560. Acquired by the mayor of Norwich, that the ancient centre of Norwich John Gurney, in 1876, it was rebuilt in the ‘outer suburbs’, the formed on the souther bank between the 1885. It is now used as a hotel and is the Wensum and Yare. , Sprowston location of Sprowston Manor Golf Club. total population of Greater and Spixworth were present only as Gurney also funded the building of St Norwich is approximately small villages in 1837 and the presence of Cuthbert’s Church, a new vicarage and Rackheath Hall, Sprowston Hall and the the first urban development, known as 250,000, nearly a third of the ornamented park at Beeston St Andrew New Sprowston. This was only possible population of the County of represent the history of landed estates at this time with the introduction of the and setting of parklands, woodland railway at Thorpe and a reliable clean . blocks, and open fields, along with areas water supply from underground aquifers. set aside for marl pits and brick kilns. By 1901, the population of Sprowston was Lying within Broadland district, 2,359. Sprowston parish adjoins the city of The historic growth of the city has not Norwich, which lies to the south and been severely affected by rail lines that The Sprowston area began to be south-west of the parish. Old Catton divide neighbourhoods, as the rail lines developed more rapidly between 1928 lies to the west, Beeston St Andrew and and the station only impact on the south and 1938, reaching its fullest extent in Spixworth to the north, Rackheath eastern side of the city and do not cross the post-war years with housing and and Great and Little Plumstead to the through the centre. The railway provides infrastructure forming a dense pattern east, and Thorpe St Andrew, beyond a link to London, a two-hour journey. of terraces, relieved to the north-west by to the south. The city also has an international airport the retention of the landscaped grounds which serves the population of Norfolk. (designed by Humphrey Repton) at Catton Park. Norwich has developed with a strong radial pattern of road connections into Modernist influences of the 1950s and out of the city. This structure appears and 1960s featured strongly in the to be well dispersed around the centre of development of the Heartsease Estate, ABOVE: St Mary & St the city and there are central and inner now seen as an area of higher density Margaret’s Church; circumferential routes within the pattern housing of low quality with poor Sprowston Hall RIGHT: John Crome, of the city too. Within the city, there is a integration of green infrastructure. ‘Windmill on Together with an area set aside as a well-connected network of walking and Mousehold Heath’ cycling routes. retail park/industrial use, Sprowston and the Heartease Estate effectively truncated Mousehold Heath from its rural hinterland and drew the Heath into the city, where it has been retained as a wild area.

18 Prince’s FounDation PROJECT REPORT Sprowston today is a predominantly built-up parish comprising mainly 20th century residential development. Substantial industrial and retail areas are located in the south-east corner of the parish. There is extensive woodland to the east and open farmland to the north. A large superstore in the north of the parish acts as a focus for convenience goods shopping. The area is well serviced by schools and recreational open spaces.

The parish population is 14,341 (Office for National Statistics 2009 population estimate). Although now small town, Sprowston has relatively limited local facilities and services that include junior and infants schools, three churches, a cemetery, allotments, parks and recreation grounds and a park and ride facility. The area is served by regular bus routes accessing Norwich and the surrounding villages and Broads.

sprowston neighbourhood planning workshop 19 appendix B Environmental context

The general quality of the necessarily confer that the woodland The main area of ecological interest contains ancient or veteran trees. It is heathland restoration. Norfolk landscape in the area is means that there is an established local Biodiversity Partnership has Habitat markedly different to that of ecology within the wood with associated Action Plans for Lowland Heathland and ground flora, vertebrate and invertebrate Dry Acid Grassland, which are aimed to the north and species. at protecting heathland and recreating heathland areas where they have been the settlements on and near Broadland District Council’s Landscape damaged by forestry. Norfolk County the flood plains of the River Character Assessment (1999, updated Council has produced a topic paper 2008) shows much of the landscape of the on heathland and advises on heath Yare and Wensum to the south Growth Triangle within ‘Type E - Wooded management including Mousehold and east of Norwich. Estatelands’, the dominant landscape Heath which has been designated as a type in the central and northern part Local Nature Reserve (LNR). However, Greater Norwich Development of the district. It is described as a gently management to reinstate heathland is Partnership (GNDP) commissioned rolling landscape of predominantly strongly opposed by certain local user a report in November 2007 setting arable farmland overlying a mixed groups. out a vision for green infrastructural geology which gives rise to areas of flatter development within the Greater Norwich landscape. Numerous copses, woodlands Area and encompassing the Joint Core and small plantations provide a sense of Strategy area. enclosure, as well as being points of visual focus within views across farmland. The document identifies Racecourse, Belmore and Brown’s Plantations as a Key issues identified in the assessment core ecological area with desirability include: of creating linkages between these i) decrease in woodland and tree plantations and the Thorpe St Andrew cover; area to the south and Bulmer Coppice to the north. It suggests potential green ii) loss of landscape features such as infrastructure projects, with ‘Mousehold hedgerows, field margins and farm Heath and NE Norwich Heathland’ ponds; (shown at Spixworth) listed as an ‘early- iii) increased pressure on marginal win’ initiative land including small holdings, ABOVE: The wood and heathland; horse paddocks and outdoor leisure the racecourse plantation Bulmer Coppice, which is immediately facilities adjacent to the development area iv) intrusive improvements in traffic boundary, is designated as Ancient management, including construction Woodland. Other areas of woodland of new roads associated with Rackheath Hall are similarly designated. v) road lighting, visibility splays and signage, contributing to increasing This designation relates to areas of sense of urbanisation woodland known to have been in vi) loss of tranquillity and rural existence since 1600 but does not character

20 Prince’s FounDation PROJECT REPORT Quote Idebis quo quo ea volorro videro consend ignient et postiam ra nus nis velistrum qui dolendi.

sprowston neighbourhood planning workshop 21 appendix c Planning context

Sprowston is one of three 8 Protect and enhance the new sewerage capacity needed to link development to the local wastewater parishes lying on the northeast 9 natural character of an area & treatment works. New homes must reach fringe of Norwich, which built heritage Code for Sustainable Homes Level 4 for 10 Create a safer environment water and, for developments over 500 together make up a large part dwellings, Level 6 by 2015. 11 Encourage the development of of the ‘Growth Triangle’. healthy and active lifestyles Policy 6 – Access and Transportation 7,000 new dwellings are to 12 Public engagement in planning be delivered in this growth The main focus of this policy is the Some of the key policies outlined in the implementation of the Norwich Area location by 2026. Joint Core Strategy are; Transportation Strategy. It seeks to promote “concentration of development Core Strategy Policy 2 – Promoting Good Design close to essential services and facilities The Joint Core Strategy for Broadland, This policy emphasizes “creating a to encourage walking and cycling Norwich, South Norfolk and the Broads strong sense of place” and respecting as the primary means of travel, with Authority was adopted by all authorities local distinctiveness. This includes public transport for wider access”, in March 2011. In Broadland, it replaced “main­taining important strategic gaps” and “provision of IT links, telecom­ the 2006 adopted local plan. between settlements, treatment of munications and promotion of home gateways, landscape character, historic working” Its main spatial planning objectives are envi­ronment, and townscape, quality Policy 10 – Locations for major to: of streets and use of “sustain­able and new or expanded communities in traditional materials”. All residential 1 Minimise the climate change the Norwich Policy Area developments of 10 units or more are to contributions be evaluated against Building for Life Concentration of new development 2 Allocation of land for housing, criteria. in areas to the north east and south and affordable housing west of the city is viewed as the best Policy 3 – Energy and Water 3 Promote economic growth way to maximise the use of existing and diversity and provide a wide This policy seeks to minimise reliance infrastructure, achieve a scale of range of jobs on non-renewable, high-carbon energy development that will deliver new sources. Developments of 10 units supporting infrastruc­ture at lower 4 Stimulate regeneration and or more should include sources of cost per unit, and mitigate against the reduce deprivation decentralised and renewable or low- envi­ronmental impacts of developing carbon energy to provide at least 10% in green field locations. The strategy 5 Provision of educational focuses housing growth in the Old facilities to support the needs of of the scheme’s energy requirements. Release of land for development Catton/Sprowston/Rackheath and a growing population Thorpe St Andrew Growth Tri­angle will be dependent on there being ABOVE: Environmental attributes in the (7,000 homes by 2026 and 10,000 6 Accessibility to services sufficient water infrastructure to growth triangle; development potential of meet additional requirements arising eventually), with other significant land in the growth triangle 7 Planning for future from new devel­opment. Water quality allocations for: Norwich City Council sustainable transport should be protected or improved, with area (3,000), Wymondham (2,200) and Long Stratton (1,800).

22 Prince’s FounDation PROJECT REPORT The Growth Triangle will be subject to an growth triangle AAP Draft Site Allocations DPD Area Action Plan, with “per­meability and framework plan study community integration” across the NDR. Broadland District Council issued a The Growth Triangle Framework Study consultation document on shortlisted Policy 19 – Hierarchy of Centres was published in September 2011, and sites in 2011 combining existing forms the basis for the future Area allocations with 62 new sites from a large All categories of centres will be subject to Action Plan (AAP), setting out the number that were proposed. The plan policies in DPDs (Development Control socio-economic and physical context and for Sprowston shows the retention of two Policies Development Plan Documents) illustrates some indicative layout options sites in the Local Plan SPR4; designated to enhance the environment and for the Growth Triangle. for residential development & SPR11 economy of that centre, protecting its which has been designated suitable for function by controlling proposals that The Growth Triangle covers an area of employment uses. would result in the loss of commercial approximately 1,865 hectares, most of premises or local services. which is undeveloped agricultural land inclusive of large swathes of plantation Blue Boar Lane development brief woodland. The combined population SPD & outline planning for White Norwich city centre of the Growth Triangle estimate in House Farm 2008 was 45,000. Currently only 3,500 Aylesham, Diss, Harleston and live within the parameters of the Outline planning permission was Wymondham, plus Anglia Sq/ Gowth Triangle itself; with projections granted to the developers Taylor Wimpey, Magdalen St and Riverside within reaching approximately 27,000 by 2031. Hopkins Homes and Persimmon for a the Norwich urban area Therefore it is anticipated that there will 1,233 residential development east of Various large village and district be a younger demographic moving into Sprowston. This proposed development centres, including the new developments in the Growth Triangle in was based on Broadland District district centre for the Growth the future. Council’s brief for the site, adopted Triangle – either based on the in 2007. The scheme consists of two existing Blue Boar Lane centre The Triangle contains, or is close to phases; a new link road and roundabout or at an alternative location, three district retail centres; Old Catton, on Salhouse Road incorporating 450 as determined through the Area Dussindale and Blue Boar Lane. Other dwellings and another of 783 dwellings Action Plan. services are availed of in nearby parishes with woodland management with public and districts. access. Local centres, including new and enhanced local cen­tres serving Employment opportunities within the Triangle are to be found in Norwich with Home Farm Development major growth locations. growth triangle land uses the percentage of people driving to work by car higher than the Norfolk or English A masterplan for the site north of Tesco average. Some of the key infrastructural superstore, adjoining Wroxham Road proposals on which the Triangle will be with Spowston Park Hotel and golf dependent are the NDR and two key link course immediately to the north-east, roads, the Bus Rapid Transit, bus route was approved in December 2007. The improvements as well as new healthcare, scheme will consist of 100 market and education and community facilities. 20 homes that are affordable through phases 2 & 3 with Phase 4 being a development of 81 homes of which 40% will be affordable. sprowston neighbourhood planning workshop 23 appendix d Transport strategy

Norwich Area Transportation Strategy (NATS) sets out to provide the essential infrastructure needed to accommodate growth, including policies to reduce the impact of traffic, to ensure that transport schemes meet their desired outcomes using high quality design, to support Norwich’s role as a Regional Interchange Centre, to improve links to other urban areas and to promote travel choice.

Adopted in 2006, it was supplemented in 2009 by the 20-year vision set out in the Norfolk County Council document, ‘Transport in the Norwich Area’, and an imple­mentation plan is being developed. The main features of the strategy include: strategy for construction of a Northern Distributor Road (NDR), which will transfer vehicle capacity from the centre to the edge of the city the Postwick hub, which is part of the NDR project and critical to releasing around 130,000 sqm of employment (70,000 on the Broadland Business Park and 60,000 on additional land proposed for allocation in the JCS) making the city centre better for pedestrians and cyclists and improving routes for these modes building on the success of existing Park and Ride facilities (3.3m passengers per annum and 6 locations at present, including one at Wroxham Road, Sprowston), with better bus routes, services and vehicles proposals for a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) network and enhancement of the core bus network, to improve bus connections between growth locations and the city centre, giving buses priority on key routes.

24 Prince’s FounDation PROJECT REPORT Norwich Northern Distributor Road

The NDR would act to relieve pressure on arterial routes into and across the City as well as relieving the pressure on quieter roads, thus providing the opportunity to improve the environment on these roads. In addition, the NDR would create better access to the airport and would provide more direct links to the regional and national road network.

Within the Growth Triangle area, a route for an inner link road has been safeguarded within Broadland District Council’s existing Local Plan. This link road is safeguarded in two parts, one of which has an extant planning permission. However, it should be noted that the road as currently safeguarded, does not link. The ‘missing section’ is located centrally within the area of land being promoted by the Broadland Land Trust.

DfT confirmed £86.5 million of funding for the NDR in December 2011. It is expected to be complete by Spring 2017.

sprowston neighbourhood planning workshop 25 appendix E list of stakeholder event attendees

June Hunt town Clerk, Sprowston Town Council Sally Barber old Catton Parish Clerk Evelyn Elliot Committee Officer, Sprowston Town Council Helen Ward natural England M Cook town Assistant Clerk, Sprowston Town Council Bruce McVean beyond Green Developments cllr. W F Couzens sprowston Town Council Neil Murphy beyond Green Developments CLLR. R B Dyball sprowston Town Council Dan Humphries taylor Wimpey CLLR. S AA Dyball sprowston Town Council Ellaine Connoly taylor Wimpey CLLR. M R Roberts sprowston Town Council Terry Harper norfolk Homes Ltd Council C L Noble sprowston Town Council James Rennie savills CLLR. J W Bracey sprowston Town Council Edward Gilder badger Builders CLLR. Mrs B J Lashley sprowston Town Council Gail Mayhew belmore Park CLLR. K Lashley sprowston Town Council Roy Houghton bidwells Richard Squires, Community Development, Insp. Danny Kett norfolk Constabulary broadland District Council Reverend Nigel Fox methodist Church Paul Harris spatial Planning, Broadland District Council Peter Sneddon sprowston Heritage Group Hamish Melville eConomic Development, Alison Cunningham nCC School Organisation broadland District Council Sheila Tuffield mothers Union TBC housing, Broadland District Council R Tovell sprowston resident CLLR. Judy Leggett norfolk County Council Mollie Howes sprowston resident CLLR. John Ward norfolk County Council Ian Parkes environment, transport and development, norfolk County Council David Yates environment, transport and development, norfolk County Council Ken Hamilton norfolk Landscape Archaeology L McCartney-Gray nhs Norfolk & Waveney & Norwich Health Clinical Commissioning Group

26 Prince’s FounDation PROJECT REPORT appendix f workshop programme

First public session Internal design workshop Date: 17 January 2012 (18:45 – 20:45) Date: 19 January 2012 (08:45 – 18:30) Venue: sprowston Diamond Centre, School Lane, Sprowston Venue: sprowston Diamond Centre, School Lane, Sprowston 18:45 Arrival, coffee and tea 08:45 Arrival, coffee and tea 19.00 Welcome and introduction by the Town Council 09:00 Consolidation and preferred option discussion Objectives and issues 10:00 Design session Work to date 12:30 Lunch meeting with Town Councillors - progress update Why The Prince’s Foundation was asked to help 13:00 Design session continues 19.15 Introduction by The Prince’s Foundation 18:30 Close Who we are Neighbourhood planning and CLG programme overview Second public session Proposed programme of events Date: 19 January 2012 (18:45 - 20:45) Principles of sustainable neighbourhoods Venue: sprowston Diamond Centre, School Lane, Sprowston 19.30 Q&A on key issues 19.45 Gathering views and ideas 18:45 Arrival, coffee and tea Dots exercises - tell us about your neighbourhood 19:00 Welcome and introduction by the Town Council Post-its exercise - give us your ideas 19:10 Presentation from The Prince’s Foundation 20:45 Close Outputs of the workshop Recommendations Stakeholder workshop Next steps 19:40 Q&A Date: 18 January 2012 (08:45 - 17:00) 20:45 Close Venue: sprowston Diamond Centre, School Lane, Sprowston 08:45 Arrival, coffee and tea 09:00 Welcome and introduction by the Town Council Objectives and issues 09:10 Presentation from The Prince’s Foundation on Process and principles Summary of feedback from first public session 09:30 Technical presentations History of the area Planning context Transport policies Beyond Green Developments proposals 10:30 Q & A 10:50 Coffee and tea break 11:00 Group workshop - Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats analysis 12:30 Group feedback - 13:00 Lunch 13:45 Workshop continues in theme based groups - Identifying priorities 14:30 Coffee and tea break 14:45 Themed group work continues - delivering responses to the priorities 16:00 Group work feedback and plenary discussion 16:50 Summary 17:00 Close of day sprowston neighbourhood planning workshop 27

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