The Parish Council objects to this site principally because it is in the Green Belt , thus its development would be contrary to government policy as set out in the NPPF. North Hertfordshire District Council have not demonstrated that "exceptional circumstances" exist for the development of the site. This particular tract of Green Belt is important because it prevents the encroachment of Knebworth into the countryside to the west.

The site is located between the A1(M) and the western edge of Knebworth Village and is affected by traffic noise from the A1(M). The adjacent stretch of the A1(M), between Junction 6 and 7, is poorly-rated in the recent Highways England report (A1 East of England Strategic Study, June 2016). There are high levels of congestion, accidents, and noise. There is a proposal to create all-lane running on the motorway, by removing the hard shoulder, but Highways England consider that this may generate additional demand for use of the motorway and local roads. The impact of the A1 (M) on the Knebworth area, therefore, can only get worse. For the longer terms future, the building of housing on this site would impact on the future viability of any plan to widen the A1(M). Such a scheme cannot be ruled out, given that this section of the A1(M) is one of the most heavily-congested in the UK.

In the Local Plan, the Council suggest noise mitigation measures, but the noise levels are unlikely to drop and any mitigation measures would most likely reduce the size of the development area. The Green Belt designation of this area does constitute an effective noise buffer between the A1(M) and the village.

The amount of traffic generated by about 200 new dwellings would add considerably to the levels of traffic impacts on the B197. Congestion levels in the centre of the village would be exacerbated. There would also be pressures on the Deards Lane End Lane railway over-bridge, which is a Scheduled Ancient Monument. Increases in traffic are likely to have an adverse effect on the structural integrity of the bridge, which crosses the East Coast main railway line.

To the east of the site is the Deards End Conservation Area, the character of which would be severely affected by the proximity of so much new housing and the increased levels of traffic. With a potential link to Park Road, and north-south movement through the village limited by three narrow railway bridges, there is a clear risk that a "rat run" would be created by drivers seeking to access Stevenage from both KB1 and KB2. Deards End Lane is a narrow single track road with no pavements, giving rise to safety concerns for all road users as well as pedestrians. Complaints about the volume and speed of traffic have already been raised by local residents.

The infrastructure improvements suggested by the District Council are impracticable. Any road widening would have an adverse effect on the character of the Conservation Area, and would involve the loss of residents' gardens. For these reasons, the delivery of KB1 is highly questionable.

There is also concern about the potential effect on the Knebworth Woods SSSI, to the west of the proposed development, and an area of ancient woodland adjacent to the site. Both areas are protected habitats and the impact of the development would have to be assessed against the provisions of the NPPF (paragraphs 14, 113 and 117).