Thanks so much for supporting the petition. We have very little time to ask for this specific site to not be rubber stamped by the secretary of state.
Here is a draft letter, and suggested emails, which I hope you will consider sending out today. We have been told its too late, its a done deal, there is nothing that can be done. Those saying that are councillors, planners and developers. Perhaps, we the people, might do different- it is a Norfolk saying!
george.freeman.mp@parliament.uk – MP for S Norfolk
richard.elliott@southnorfolkandbroadland.gov.uk – district councillor
planning@southnorfolkandbroadland.gov.uk – generic planning
localplan.snc@southnorfolkandbroadland.gov.uk – the crucial local plan people
angela.rayner.mp@parliament.uk- secretary of state for housing
katrina.hulatt@norfolk.gov.uk monitoring officer
May 22nd, 2025
Dear [Recipient's Name/Title],
As a signatory to a petition regarding the Barnham Broom village clusters housing allocations plan (VCHAP), I am writing to convey the profound strength of feeling that has become strongly evident within our village against the proposed development of plot VCBB1.
I also wish to highlight the concerning misrepresentation and vested interests of our Parish Council in this matter. In 2024 with the closure of Barnham Broom's village shop and then in early 2025, when the village pub submitted plans to build bungalows in its car park, concerned residents revisited the idea of creating a village green at the heart of Barnham Broom.
This vital green space could help sustain our remaining village amenities and was first proposed to the Parish Council in 2021, but the parish council chose not to pursue it. Earlier this month, May 2025, whilst working on this revised village green plan, a small group met a local councillor and were shocked to learn that the very site envisioned as our village green – a cherished meadow with a grove and pond – was the chosen location for 40 new houses in Barnham Broom.
The immediate reaction from the community has been overwhelming. In just six days, our petition, stating "We the undersigned object to any building on VCBB1," has garnered over 400 signatures. 60% of these were collected door-to-door from villagers, with the remainder coming from Barnham Broom and surrounding communities online.
This rapid and widespread support unequivocally demonstrates the village's deep desire to preserve this central meadow and its unique character, ideally transforming it into a village green and wildlife area that would benefit our historic pub, the post office, and our existing community.
It is clear the overwhelming majority of the parish was unaware of VCBB1 being the preferred site for development. The village feels entirely unheard and unrepresented by the Parish Council's handling of this massive issue.
Critically, the Parish Council chose not to respond to the VCHAP Regulation 19 consultation in 2023, thereby missing a vital opportunity to gain views of the parish and to influence the plan on behalf of the community.
Given these serious concerns, we are now formally asking the monitoring officer, Katrina Hulatt, to investigate disclosures of vested interests, ensuring they are in good order because members of the Parish Council stand to financially gain from this site's development and the subsequent unlocking of other sites upon its completion. It appears that good practice dictates these interests need to be restated , and it seems one declaration was made in 2021, specific to this plan, and was not repeated until 2025. At an EGM this evening 2 councillors, one of whom was the chair, left the discussion of the site, and stated they were advised to do so by the clerk, one of whom had never declared their vested interest in any minutes regarding this build from 2021 to February 2025.
Our group are requesting an urgent meeting with Adam Banham, the place-shaping manager, and any other relevant individuals from the local planning authority to discuss all of the above before the site is signed off by the Secretary of State. Furthermore, we will be engaging with the local press to maximize awareness and transparency for all residents.
To be clear, the village does not object to 40 houses in Barnham Broom in principle, but we firmly believe that VCBB1 is not the right site. Our Parish Council's profound lack of action, local outreach, and engagement has raised serious concerns within the village and significant questions about their adherence to the Nolan principles of public life.