2.8 Access and Infrastructure
2.8.1 New development places additional burdens on local infrastructure and facilities, be it transport services, water supplies, health services or provision of school places. The purpose of the access and infrastructure strategic policy is two-fold:
- to ensure that new development does not take place without adequate provision of infrastructure; and
- to ensure that development supports the aim of reducing reliance on car-travel and provides opportunities for access by a choice of travel modes.
Infrastructure
2.8.2 Infrastructure relates to water supply, waste water disposal, sewerage, the transport network, and energy. The Environment Agency has recently highlighted the often "hidden" costs of such infrastructure provision 21 . Other public services and facilities, such as open space, education, health, public transport services, cultural and civil protection services required to enable a good quality of life - are covered under Policy CT 2 ‘Developer Contributions’ and further guidance on the detailed nature of any financial or other contributions will be provided in a Developer Contributions Supplementary Planning Document (SPD). The Norfolk Primary Care Trust (PCT) is currently consulting on proposals for revised service delivery, and there will be a need to ensure that any proposals meet local needs whilst making the best use of resources. Particular infrastructure constraints have been taken into account in the formulation of the Spatial Strategy and Strategic Housing Policy and are outlined in more detail in Section 4 ‘Implementation & Monitoring’. The requirements in the strategic policy will be proportional to the size of the development proposed and will be applied to the local circumstances. Development Control Policy CT3 seeks to ensure protection of existing local facilities and services.
Open Space
2.8.3 Regional policy requires that networks of accessible greenspace are provided, linking developed areas with the countryside. Development control policy Policy CT 1 ‘Open Space Designations’ protects existing formal and informal recreation opportunities, and this, along with new provision and other initiatives, will form the basis for such networks. This objective will contribute to a range of Council priorities including health, quality of life and protection of the environment and also provide opportunities for biodiversity enhancement.
2.8.4 The Open Space and Recreation Study 22 assessed open space provision and indoor and outdoor sports needs in North Norfolk. It found that sport and recreation provision within the District is generally adequate to meet the needs of the District to 2016, with a few shortfalls identified. The following are required to satisfy predicted future demand, and the Council is preparing an 'Open Space and Play Space Strategy' to help achieve the necessary identified level of provision:
- provision of pitches at existing fields in community use which have physical potential for additional pitches, or diverting use of pitches from full size football, to provide an additional 8.64 hectares of playing pitches (4 mini football, 3 cricket and 1 hockey).
- provision of 1 artificial turf pitch for hockey use at a sports centre or school site in the Fakenham area.
- upgrades of 3 tennis courts (within the Principal and Secondary Settlements, but outside the catchment of Cromer Lawn Tennis Club)
- 1-2 health and fitness centres
2.8.5 In terms of open space it found that 27 hectares of parks are required to be provided within the main settlements to meet needs. Locally based Open Space Standards have been developed based on the assessment of needs in the Open Space and Recreation Study and proposals for new residential development should contribute to provision of open space in areas where the standards are not met. Further details are provided in Policy CT 2 ‘Developer Contributions’ . The standards are set out in Appendix A: ‘Open Space Standards’. Provision should look beyond the immediate site and see how it can connect to open space in the surrounding area to contribute to creation of green networks. Initiatives such as the Environment Stewardship scheme which rewards farmers and land managers for caring for the countryside, conserving wildlife and providing public access can also assist in creating a network of accessible greenspace and providing increased recreational opportunities.
Transport
2.8.6 Access to facilities and services relates not only to where they are located but also to provision of transport to access those services. Responsibility for transport strategy lies primarily with Norfolk County Council as Highway Authority and implementation of many of the transport objectives will be via the Local Transport Plan for Norfolk (2006-11). Although public transport provision is generally poor in the district, Cromer, Hoveton, North Walsham and Sheringham benefit from an hourly rail service on the Bittern Line railway, which is an award-winning community rail partnership. In relation to new development planned within and adjoining settlements served directly by the Bittern line, opportunities to help improve the frequency, timings and passenger carrying capacity of the line, and associated interchange facilities, will be examined and, where environmentally acceptable, supported and promoted.
2.8.7 Limited public transport in North Norfolk means that those without access to a car find it difficult to access jobs, services and other facilities. This can exacerbate rural poverty and social disadvantage. The Housing Market Assessment found that in rural parts of the district 27% of households with an income under £20,000 found access to grocery shops quite or very difficult. The County Council has identified a number of 'Transport Accessibility Action Areas' where public transport accessibility is poor and car ownership is low. Within North Norfolk an area from Blakeney down to Briston and another larger area to the west of, and including, Wells-next-the-Sea and to the south and west of Fakenham are identified.
2.8.8 The Spatial Strategy is designed to reduce the need to travel by car through locating new development in larger settlements. However, it is unrealistic to expect that car dependency can be eliminated as even the larger towns do not provide the full range of services, such as the range of comparison shopping, hospitals, cultural activities etc. Developments in vehicle technology may enable car travel to become less environmentally damaging and there is potential for agricultural operations in Norfolk to diversify into growth of crops for bio-fuels which can help with aims of reducing carbon emissions.
2.8.9 Increasing walking and cycling has multiple benefits in terms of the population's health and in reducing traffic impacts. North Norfolk is ideally placed to take advantage of the increase in popularity of walking and cycling holidays and improvements to strategic walking and cycling routes form a key element of the sustainable tourism economy. The Norfolk Local Transport Plan includes strategies for the Broads and the Norfolk Coast to promote alternatives to car-based tourism, by for example, support for the Coasthopper bus service along the A149, building on the ' Quiet Lanes' initiative and promoting awareness of travel options available to visitors. The District Council is also seeking to increase provision of footpath and cycle links, and the North Norfolk Community Partnership is coordinating grant funding for such provision. This will assist in the creation of a network of accessible greenspaces and provision of a series of footpath or cycle routes linking important green spaces and picking out areas, features and buildings of historical or other importance will support tourism, encourage healthy activity and help create ecological networks. There is also a need to improve the environment of town centres, by reducing traffic impact and encouraging walking and cycling.
Policy SS 6
Access and Infrastructure
New development should be supported by, and have good access to, infrastructure, open space, public services and utilities.
Permission for development will not be granted unless there is sufficient capacity in existing local infrastructure 23 to meet the additional requirements arising from the new development, or suitable arrangements having been put in place for necessary improvements.
Adequate provision of infrastructure, services, community facilities and open space will be provided through:
- Protection and enhancement of existing provision / facilities where possible.
- Improvements through Council initiatives and other agencies and service providers development programmes.
- Provision and protection of Open Space to strive towards meeting the Open Space standards and create a network of accessible greenspace.
- Developer Contributions and planning obligations supported by Policy CT 2 ‘Developer Contributions’ and a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD).
The transport strategy for North Norfolk is to maximise the use of non-car modes, within the context of a rural area where, for many trips, there are limited alternatives to the car. This will be achieved through promotion of walking and cycling for local trips, particularly within towns and villages, through traffic management schemes and parking regimes to reduce the impact of traffic on the rural and urban environment, and by promoting public transport and sustainable tourism including by supporting increased use of the Bittern Railway line. Walking and cycling networks and Public Rights of Way will be protected, enhanced and promoted. New development should create convenient and attractive links within development and to the surrounding area, assist with creation of a network of accessible greenspace and provide links to public transport and walking and cycling networks.
2.8.10 The following map (Figure 4) shows long distance footpaths and national cycle routes in North Norfolk in the context of the road and rail network.
