Taverham homes plan rejected by Broadland District Council

A development that was set to build seven detached homes and a terrace of three houses on some land along Taverham Road in Taverham has been rejected by Broadland District Council (BDC).

Plans were submitted by the Paul Robinson Partnership, a chartered practice based in Little Plumstead, in June 2023.

As part of the plans, a treeline was proposed to separate the seven large and double-fronted houses from the street, a decision that would restrict the view of the Wensum Valley for those living in Taverham Road.

Each house would have a large garden, further restricting the public's access to the area.

Now, 10 months and 84 public objections later, BDC has refused the plans - which were for land opposite the Penn Road junction.

The plans would have seen seven large homes with big gardens built along the stretch of road (Image: Paul Robinson Partnership, via Broadland District Council)

The public outcry was significant, with many sharing their views of the proposed builds on the planning application.

One Taverham Road local commented: "Yet again residents are faced with the prospect of another unwanted development that would have a huge detrimental impact on a beautiful, open space along the Wensum valley, and which would also exacerbate the existing traffic problems that persist along this busy thoroughfare.

"It seems that every few months yet another greedy developer submits plans, or amended plans, that show no respect for the local community's wishes, and make a mockery of the meticulous research that was carried out before the Taverham Neighbourhood Plan 2020-2040 was published and approved."

Taverham Road locals have objected about the plans (Image: Denise Bradley)

With Taverham Junior School near the site, another public comment left on the application read: "Taverham Road is a nightmare to negotiate particularly at school start and finish times.

"Any additional traffic joining in this vicinity would add risk to school users.

"There is only a path on one side of the road but parking near the school on the opposite side.

"How no one has been injured crossing to get to school is a miracle."

Stuart Clancy, county council for Taverham and district councillor for Taverham South (Image: Norfolk County Council)

Stuart Clancy, a Conservative district councillor for Taverham South and county councillor for Taverham and Thorpe Marriott, was strongly opposed to the plans and is pleased by the outcome of the planning application.

"I hold a principled objection to any development on the backland heading towards the Wensum Valley," he said.

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"The rejection of the plans is a good outcome for Taverham, for common sense and for sensible plan making.

Plans for a large portion of land to the south of Taverham Road have been rejected (Image: The Landscape Partnership via Broadland District Council)

"Once you allow any development in that area, more will follow.

"There is currently a major deficit and issues with the capacity of local health care and medical provision, and any additional development would exasperate this situation, and put further strain on local services and infrastructure.

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"The people of Taverham want quality housing and infrastructure but this is an area where you can't develop and is protected by both the Taverham neighbourhood plan and the Greater Norwich Local Plan."

The houses on Taverham Road would lose their view over the Wensum Valley if houses were built in the area (Image: Denise Bradley)

Reports undertaken by historic environments officers at Norfolk County Council suggest that the land proposed for the development is far more significant than just farmland, and the area likely has buried archaeological remains from the medieval to post-medieval period.

BDC rejected the application, listing seven reasons why it was not successful, including the fact that the area is not allocated for development, the work would have an "unacceptable" impact on the landscape and the River Wensum character area, and the lack of information on how they will tackle the issues of nutrient neutrality at the site.

The developers now have 12 weeks to appeal the decision, if they want to.