It is neither justified not effective because:
- It would remove an important source of employment and business from the local economy.
- Proposed development of this site contravenes the District Council's own policy in the Local Plan, which seeks to protect employment on non-allocated sites as well as support village centre economies and retail use via SP4 and ETC2.
- Allocation for housing would actually reduce the amount of land zoned for commercial use in this part of the district
- The site is a key retail and commercial location in the centre of the village. In terms of its activity, it contributes much to the character of Knebworth. There is no analysis of justifiable alternatives in the Local Plan, to off-set the loss of this site to the local economy.