The Parish Council generally supports this policy and the settlement hierarchy for the District. It supports the designation of Knebworth as a Category 1 settlement in line with the principles described in paragraph 4.13. Comments on the detailed policies for Knebworth are set out in our representations elsewhere.

The Parish Council also supports the intention (paragraph 4.11) to focus the majority of development on towns and urban extensions.

Some detailed changes to the policy wording are suggested. In the first part of policy SP1, on Stevenage, the reference in the bracket should state ("including Great Ashby and west of Stevenage") The reasoning for this is set out in our comments on the strategic housing sites.

In the second part of the policy, it is recommended that the introductory wording should be changed to read as follows:
" General development will also be permitted in the defined settlement boundaries of Category A villages. The amount of development shall be specified in Neighbourhood Plans, to be prepared for each of the settlements. Provision for housing shall be not less than 10% of the number of dwellings in the 2011 Census returns. The Category A villages are:....."