05/04/2026
Update on the Local Villages Housing Cluster Allocation Plan
Brooke being considered for only 25 houses at the north end of the village. We have an opportunity to decide on what sort of houses the village needs, and also where else they can go. We are unlikely to be able to prevent this, or the bigger Greater Norwich Local Plan, so we should get involved to ensure we get what we want, not what the developer wants.
Our paragraphs are below and the whole document is in the link at the bottom.
BRO1 East and West of the B1332, Norwich Road, Brooke
35. Brooke is one of the larger villages in the rural area. The plan proposes an
allocation of 2.47 ha for 50 dwellings in two equal sized parcels of agricultural
land either side of the B1332 Norwich Road just to the north of the built-up
area. The development would adjoin the linear frontage housing to the south
but would take the form of two cul-de-sac estates on each side of the road
accessed by a large four-arm roundabout, a traffic calming feature at the
entrance to the village. However, this would not be a financially viable form
of development. A staggered junction would be necessary, and the proposal
would potentially open up further land on both sides for longer-term larger
scale development.
36. The site to the west has some screening from the surrounding countryside
due to the tree cover around Brooke Lodge to the north and a few trees along
the western boundary. In comparison, that to the east is more exposed in the
landscape, a corner of a large arable field which forms part of an extensive
area of open countryside to the north and east. Should the allocation be the
forerunner of larger scale development in the future, the area further west is
broken up by more landscape features and would provide better opportunities
to link to the centre of the village without affecting its conservation area.
37. The allocation of land on both sides of the B1332 for two cul-de-sac estates as
submitted represents an unduly confused strategy for the village. It would
lead to an unfortunate staggered junction and have a significant impact on the
open landscape to the northeast. Considering the two parcels individually, the
allocation to the east of the B1332 is not justified and should be deleted from
the plan.
Any further development beyond 25 dwellings to the west should be
a matter for future consideration, perhaps during the GNLP review.
