I would like to object to the local plan, specifically the lack of justification for the excessive housing target, lack of associated infrastructure that a local plan of this size requires and further rolling back of the Green Belt (or land swaps) around the A1M towns of Stevenage, Hitchin, Baldock and Letchworth. Instead I would support that NHDC and Stevenage Borough Council deliver a sensitively designed new Garden city, to support additional and justified housing need in the area, local employment can be generated and where the local infrastructure is adequately considered and delivered.

There is an absence of justification for the excessive housing target that does not take into proper account of Green Belt constraints and in many cases. The current framework makes it very clear Green Belt boundaries should only be adjusted when very special circumstances exist, through the Local plan and with the support of local people. The need for additional housing alone does not constitute exceptional circumstances for rolling back further the green belt around the towns on the A1M corridor.
The North of Stevenage already had a large area removed from the green belt for Great Ashby as exceptional circumstances to meet Stevenage housing need during the last local plan, and now is expected to do so again. NS1, GA1 and GA2 will close the gap between Graveley and Stevenage with Weston and will fully immerse Chesfield losing the character of all villages and hamlets.
The development sites NS1 (900 dwellings), GA1 (330 dwellings), GA2 (600 dwellings) are to meet the needs of Stevenage which itself has a developing local plan for 7600 new homes during 2011 and 2031. There also plans for 600 dwellings to the East of Stevenage in East Herts local plan. This constitutes an increase of 10030 homes or 11% increase to meet the needs of Stevenage alone. This is a similar proposal to what was included in the now defunct SNAP, which indicated a relief road for a development of this size, yet this is not indicated in the local plan, and relies on funnelling traffic through existing roads not designed to cope with such an increase in traffic. All of these sites are away from the main town centre, public transport does not link these sites together so will increase car journeys and commuting outside of the town further exacerbating the daily issues on the A1M and rail network.