Public Meeting to Discuss Amended Persimmon Application

The Parish Council would like to thank the members of the public who attended the meeting on 6th January to discuss the recent applications made by Persimmon.  These applications are for phases 4 – 6 and are on the west side of the Drayton High Road.  Persimmon has stated in their Financial Viability Assessment that they wish to reduce ‘non-essential s106 costs to further improve the viability of the scheme’.  These non-essential s106 costs are the investments that helps to build a community.  As a result the Parish Council has strong objected to the proposals. 

Persimmon proposes to not create any more opportunities for affordable housing in the site.  A Housing Needs Assessment commissioned by the Parish Council in June found that ‘Even average earning households fall below the affordability threshold required to afford an average home through market ownership.  The median house price would require an annual income slightly over double the current average.’  This proves the need for affordable housing in Hellesdon, particularly for young people who may not have had the time to establish their careers and generate the income required for market ownership.   

Persimmon also proposes to reduce the amount of formal recreational open space available to the general public.  This is of significant disappointment to the Parish Council as Hellesdon is already deficient in public open space for its population.  In a report commissioned by Hellesdon Parish Council, Hellesdon should have 37.23ha of publicly accessible green space of all types, whereas it actually has 17.15ha which is less than 50%.  Whilst the Parish Council does not expect developers to resolve the existing problem of lack open space in Hellesdon, it does expect developers not to exacerbate the issue by not complying with planning policy. 

The recently updated National Planning Policy Framework states that ‘Applications that can demonstrate early, proactive and effective engagement with the community should be looked on more favourably than those that cannot.’  Given that Persimmon has not attempted to make contact with the Parish Council prior to submitting these applications, the applications should not be looked upon favourably.  However the Parish Council remains open to a discussion with Persimmon about how to create a sustainable community from their development. 

Hellesdon Parish Council Response

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