Lound with Ashby, Herringfleet and Somerleyton Neighbourhood Plan 2014 to 2036 Submission Version July 2021 Lound with Ashby, Herringfleet and Somerleyton Neighbourhood Plan Index 1. Introduction page 2 2. Map of Neighbourhood Plan Area page 3 3. Profile of the Parishes page 4 4. Our Vision for 2036 page 6 5. Objectives of Neighbourhood Plan page 6 6. Policies included in this Neighbourhood Plan page 8 7. Housing page 8 8. Environment page 17 9. Community Facilities page 21 10. Business and Employment page 27 11. Health page 28 Appendix 1 Lound and Somerleyton, Suffolk, Masterplanning and Design Guidelines, AECOM, June 2019 1 Lound with Ashby, Herringfleet and Somerleyton Neighbourhood Plan 1. Introduction 1.1 Lound and Ashby, Herringfleet & Somerleyton are adjoining parishes in the north of Suffolk. The area is rural, with much of the land being used for agriculture. The main settlement areas are the villages of Somerleyton and Lound, with smaller settlements at Herringfleet and Ashby, together with some scattered farmhouses and converted farm buildings or farm workers’ cottages. The two parishes have a combined area of around 2020 hectares, and a total population of around 780 (2011 census). 1.2 Early in 2016 the two parish councils agreed to work together to develop a joint neighbourhood plan. A steering group consisting of residents and Parish Councillors was set up to lead the work. 1.3 One of the initial pieces of work was to agree and gain acceptance from the former Waveney District Council (now East Suffolk Council) and the Broads Authority for the designated Neighbourhood Area. The agreed plan area includes the whole of the parish of Lound, and the whole of the parish of Ashby, Herringfleet & Somerleyton. See map on next page. 1.4 Local residents accept that there needs to be some development in the parishes in order to maintain the communities, but they are keen to preserve the rural image and not have the area transformed by inappropriate development. 1.5 The steering group arranged informal open meetings in November 2016, which were held in Lound Village Hall and in Somerleyton Village Hall. Many local residents came to these meetings to express their views and concerns about living in the area. 1.6 These meetings were followed by a written questionnaire which was distributed to all households in August 2017. This questionnaire probed in more detail the issues raised at our open meetings. Over 50% of the questionnaires were returned. For more details of the questionnaire responses see the Lound with Ashby, Herringfleet and Somerleyton Neighbourhood Plan Supporting Evidence document 1.7 The East Suffolk Council (Waveney) Local Plan was adopted in March 2019 and the Local Plan for the Broads was adopted in May 2019. Our Neighbourhood Plan is required to be in general conformity with the adopted Local plans. 2 Lound with Ashby, Herringfleet and Somerleyton Neighbourhood Plan 2. Map of the Neighbourhood Plan Area North Neighbourhood Area Boundary Broads Authority Area 3 Lound with Ashby, Herringfleet and Somerleyton Neighbourhood Plan 3. Profile of the Parishes 3.1 The parishes of Somerleyton, Ashby, and Herringfleet were joined together to form one civil parish in 1987. This parish has a population of 427 (2011 census). The majority of the land in this parish is owned by the Somerleyton Estate. 3.2 The parish of Lound has a population of 359 (2011 census), and around a quarter of the land in this parish is also owned by the Somerleyton Estate. 3.3 These are the two most northerly parishes in Suffolk, bordered to the north by Fritton Lake, to the east by the A47 trunk road, to the south by Blundeston parish, and to the west by the river Waveney. 3.4 Somerleyton Hall is a popular heritage visitor attraction, surrounded by gardens and historic parkland. The Hall is a grade II* listed building and is the private residence of Lord Somerleyton and his family. It is also available to hire for weddings or private parties. 3.5 Somerleyton Hall is part of the Somerleyton Estate, which extends to a total of around 2000 hectares (some outside the plan area). The Estate also owns over 100 properties which are mainly residential houses in Somerleyton. These are let on the open market. 3.6 Ashby, Herringfleet, Somerleyton and Lound each have ancient Listed churches. These four churches, together with churches at Fritton and Blundeston (which are outside the Neighbourhood Plan area) are grouped together into a single benefice. 3.7 There is a conservation area in Somerleyton which extends from The Green down The Street to the Brickfields Cottages, including a working farm and the village pond, as well as other interesting and attractive buildings. The intention of the Conservation area is to preserve and enhance this exceptional village character. 3.8 All the settlements making up the two Civil Parishes have their complement of Listed Buildings, as well as traditional buildings including farmhouses and cottages of great character. 3.9 Somerleyton railway station is on the Southern edge of the village and has regular services to Norwich and Lowestoft. Near the Station are the remains of Somerleyton Brickyard, which at its early twentieth century peak produced around 2 million handmade bricks a year. 3.10 Other facilities in Somerleyton include a Primary School, a village hall, a public house and a Marina. 3.11 The main part of the settlement of Lound is along The Street. This area contains the church, the public house, a cafe, the village hall, the village green and the village pond (The Mardle). The parish of Lound also contains two garden centres, a residential nursing home, and Lound water treatment works. 3.12 North of Lound village large freshwater lakes were dug in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to provide drinking water for Lowestoft. These lakes survive and 4 Lound with Ashby, Herringfleet and Somerleyton Neighbourhood Plan still have the same public function today. There are extensive filtration and purification facilities at the Lound water treatment works. The lakes and surrounding grassland and woodland, owned by Essex & Suffolk Water, is designated as a County Wildlife Site. Some of this surrounding landscape area is accessible to the public via public footpaths. The site has been extensively surveyed and Suffolk Wildlife Trust advise on its management. There is a long history of nature conservation at the site due to its use as a water source, parts of the site have never been artificially fertilized. 3.13 Part of the area is the Broads, which are a nationally protected landscape with status equivalent to a National Park. Businesses in the area rely on the Broads and the Broads bring tourism to the area. Somerleyton Station 4. Our Vision for 2036 4.1 The Neighbourhood Plan will enhance the lives of residents of all age groups in Lound, Ashby, Herringfleet and Somerleyton by protecting the rural identity, the scenic beauty, the Broads and the balance of built and natural landscape and tranquillity. 4.2 We will support community infrastructure, ensure future-housing provision will meet requirements generated by local needs and promote sustainable development. New homes will have been built, in accordance with the principles in our design guide, ensuring they blend into the villages by careful design and landscaping. New housing development will not have changed the distinct nature of the villages. More young people and families will be living and thriving here, with the population extending across all age ranges, with the 5 Lound with Ashby, Herringfleet and Somerleyton Neighbourhood Plan facilities in the area supporting the community’s existing inhabitants and attracting newcomers. This will ensure a continued vibrant safe and supportive community in our villages. 5. Objectives of the Neighbourhood Plan. Our objectives for the Neighbourhood Plan are initially defined as: 5.1 To protect and enhance the rural and historic qualities of the parishes. This will include the surrounding landscapes which include woodland, historic parks, open views across agricultural land and the Broads. 5.2 To set clear guidance on future appropriate housing development whilst safeguarding the village landscape. 5.3 To ensure that the allocated sites in Somerleyton and Lound, as identified by the East Suffolk Council (Waveney) Local Plan and all new housing developments are developed in accordance with the independently produced design briefs. Residential moorings are allocated by and also need to meet the requirements of the Broads Authority’s Local Plan. 5.4 To support and improve local facilities and amenities. 5.5 To encourage the growth of local businesses, particularly those providing facilities for leisure activities and local tourism. 5.6 These objectives were derived from responses following the open consultation meetings held on 13th November 2016. Further details of these meetings are contained in our statement of consultation document, included in our supporting evidence file. 5.7 In producing the Neighbourhood Plan we developed the five original broad objectives into a series of more specific objectives (categorised as social, environmental and economic). These detailed objectives are shown in the three tables below. The tables also show the linkage between our new policies and the objectives they will address. 5.8 The following objectives have been formed in consideration with the provisions of both the East Suffolk (Waveney) and Broads Local Plans. Social Objectives Objective Policy Soc 1 To embrace change and the development of new homes for 1,2,3,4 the long-term benefit of the whole community. Soc 2 To see our parishes and their communities grow and flourish 1,2,3,5,7 whilst maintaining the small rural village ethos where people look out for their neighbours’ welfare.