Baldock - Sites BA2, BA3, BA4 & BA5:

There appears to be insufficient linked up planning in relation to the proposed sites for development other than BA1 (i.e. BA2, BA3, BA4 and BA5) in Baldock which could account for an additional 520 houses all located around Clothall Common in Baldock. The 2011 Census has 4491 dwellings within the town, when combined these four developments constitute an expansion of 11.5% on the figures at that time. It has to be expected that these sites will bring additional pressure on the current roads, rail links, schools, doctors surgery and other amenities such as the community centre, library and town centre parking. However as the local plan splits these sites into separate smaller developments there is no mention of providing additional school/doctor services to cater for the additional demand this will bring to local infrastructure and amenities.

The introduction to the local plan states that "Strategic Housing Sites (defined as sites of 500 or more
homes) which will make a substantial contribution towards housing requirements over the plan period." As such the plan must combine BA2, BA3, BA4 and BA5 into one larger development and as treat it as a separate Strategic Housing Site.