13 Gypsy Traveller pitches at The Hollyoaks, London Road, Suton

“Applicant’s Name: The Residents of Hollyoaks Site Address: The Hollyoaks, London Road, Suton, Norfolk, NR18 9SN Proposal: Change of use of land to create 13 Pitches for occupation by Gypsy Traveller Families including Proposed Landscaping and Biodiversity Improvements, Stable Building and Creation of New Footpath (Part Retrospective)”

“The application seeks full planning permission to change the use of the land to create 13 pitches for occupation by Gypsy Traveller families. The application also proposes the creation of a new footpath whilst landscaping and biodiversity improvements are proposed on site.”

“The site, which measures approximately 3.34 hectares in size, is a rectangular shaped parcel of land on the east side of London Road in Suton. The site is outside of any defined development boundary as Suton does not have a one. The site exhibits no significant changes in ground levels.”

“To the north of the site is a small group of residential properties with Strathearn House, a detached two storey dwelling the closest of these. There is agricultural land to the east and south of the site. To the west is London Road, with agricultural fields and some residential properties further west on the opposite side of the road.”

“The application is part retrospective, as the land has already been used as a Gypsy Traveller site since at least 2020 with many of the pitches already in place. At the Council’s most recent site visit there were 11 pitches, 9 mobile homes and 10 touring caravans on the site with at least 7 of the pitches appearing to be in occupation.”

“An application for change of use of land and creation of 8 Gypsy Traveller pitches was previously refused under application 2019/0330 and subsequently dismissed on appeal in June 2021. The land has continued to be occupied since then. The appeal decision relating to the above mentioned previous 2019/0330 application is included as Appendix A to this report.”

“We object to this planning application in the absence of an acceptable Flood Risk Assessment (FRA) / Drainage Strategy / supporting information and would advise you, the Local Planning Authority (LPA), to request the following:”

“The proposal is remote from local service centre provision conflicting with the aims of sustainable development, the need to minimise travel, and the ability to encourage walking, cycling, use of public transport and reduce the reliance on the private car as represented in national and local policy. Contrary to the National Planning Policy Framework and Policy 5 of Norfolk’s 3rd Local Transport Plan, entitled Connecting Norfolk.”

“Decision : Members voted 7 – 1 for refusal.”

“The application site is paddock/pasture land, surrounded by open agricultural land, which contributes to the characteristics of this area which lies within the B2 Tiffey Tributary Farmland Character Area. The introduction of 13 Gypsy Traveller pitches, which could include 13 mobile homes, 13 day rooms and 13 touring caravans together with vehicles, fencing and domestic items would be out of keeping with the open nature of the surrounding area.”

“Due to the scattered nature, size and density of the village of Suton, it is considered that the provision of 13 pitches will, particularly when considered with the nearby existing 8 pitches on Chepore Lane, dominate the settled community and would be disproportionate with the size and density of the surrounding population. The proposal is therefore contrary to paragraph 26 of the Planning Policy for Traveller Sites 2024 and Policy DM3.3(a) and (l) of the South Norfolk Local Plan Development Management Policies Document 2015.”