Paragraph 13.155 - Ickleford exists as a village and community in its own right, but its close proximity to Hitchin affords easy access to the higher order facilities therein by foot, bike or public transport as alternatives to private motor vehicles. Indeed, the village is closer, and has easier access, to the town centre of Hitchin, than some of the towns own suburbs.

As a longstanding "Excluded Village" reclassification of Ickleford as one of the Category A villages is commended, as is the allocation of housing sites and the redefining and extension of the settlement boundary with the Green Belt, whilst still preserving the gap with Hitchin along the River Oughton.