This is based on an assumption that existing towns have spare capacity within their facilities and infrastructure, but this is incorrect. In Baldock for example the schools are already over subscribed, the road network is at capacity with no options for expansion (due to pinch points at historic junctions and narrow roads bounded by listed buildings hundreds of years old, and the situation of the railway line and the narrow rail bridge allowing traffic under it), the GP surgery is at capacity, and leisure and sporting facilities are also at capacity (in fact Baldock has far below the recommended level of open space and sporting recreational area/facilities). Furthermore, it assumes that development of existing towns will help to meet local housing need - however, since the biggest site (north of Baldock, Blackhorse Farm) lies in what used to be greenbelt (until it was removed as part of the review which forms part of this Local Plan) and is situated right next to the train station with a fast connection to London (34 minutes to London Kings Cross) then development of this site will in fact lead to massive upward pressure on house prices in that development (within 20 minutes walk of the station) and a consequent uplift in prices in North Hertfordshire. In short, a very large number of houses in this plan will go toward inward migration of people currently living in London who wish to continue working in London - this will leave housing need left unmet and also drive up prices, in fact exacerbating problems in North Hertfordshire. This would be easily mitigated by scaling back the development north of Baldock and separating it from Baldock by a strip of Greenbelt (or developing this strip only at the end of the period).
Also, the council needs to accelerate efforts to establish new towns (garden villages) within the district. Although little work has been done so far, and so these cannot contribute to the figures in this plan, it should be the aim of the plan to establish 2 new garden villages in the district by the end of the period (for example at Odsey which is further along the train line and less desirable for commuting to London, and at a location half way between Luton and Stevenage, which would not be on a current train line, but would offer short commutes to the local towns) - depending upon how these new settlements progress, then the Plan will have flexibility to alter plans elsewhere as the plan is reviewed over the period.

Although the text claims that the Plan seeks to allow villages to grow as vibrant functioning communities, it looks like it will actually act to stifle growth in the villages of all sizes. The green belt review, which forms part of this Local Plan, whilst removing large areas of green belt around existing towns intends to smother the whole of the south of the district in greenbelt - this is quite unnecessary the existing green belt areas provide sufficient protection against the encroachment of the existing large settlements of Luton, Stevenage and London. Plan seems to indicate that in the villages only infill or development within existing village boundaries will even we considered - this actively works to limit options for development and will stifle development, drive up house prices and kill these villages and functioning communities. The plan needs to be clearer about the circumstances under which development outside village boundaries will be considered. The villages should not be allowed to die under a misplaced desire to leave them untouched by modern development.

Developing close to Baldock train station with its fast link to London as a result of releasing Green Belt land will only serve London housing need and will leave local housing need unmet, whilst also driving up house prices and placing Baldock facilities and infrastructure under additional strain, when they are already over stretched and unprepared for extra load.
The plan should include the establishment of 2 new garden villages that will in time grow into garden towns (even if building of them is barely begun by the end of the period).
Plan seems to actively stifle development of villages of all sizes (whist the text states it aims to do the opposite), by restricting options for development too much.