Gladman appeal success sets a worrying precedent for local planning decisions

The recent Planning Inspectorate decision to uphold the appeal by Gladman over its controversial plans to build 50 new houses in Mattishall sets a worrying precedent for other developments currently in the pipeline. This despite the Mattishall Neighbourhood Plan being adopted by Breckland Council. The decision hinged on the fact that Breckland can only prove that it has 4.6 year's supply of housing land. The minimum required to prevent a presumption in favour of sustainable development is 5 years.

Lanpro/Glavenhill is now appealing against the decision to reject its own application for 25 houses on land north of Norwich Road in Yaxham. This is only a small part of a much bigger parcel of land bought by Glavenhill in 2016. The Norwich based company has already courted controversy because of its plans to develop a village bowling green into houses and to build almost 300 student flats on a car park in Norwich.

These developments undermine the huge efforts by both Parishes in developing their own Neighbourhood Plans and must be resisted. We have supported Yaxham Parish Council and NP4Yaxham in campaigning to have a public hearing of the case and have made representations to the case officer.