The plan for Knebworth is not effective because each site is being considered separately rather than as a whole. The result is that insufficient thought has gone into the appropriate infrastructure required to support the considerable increase in the number of houses in Knebworth.
At peak times, Knebworth station is already heavily used with insufficient parking facilities. With the large number of additional houses planned, plus the 150 planned for Woolmer Green and the windfall site at Odyssey Leisure, commuters will find trains increasingly crowded and parking almost impossible. The occupants of the proposed new housing will not be aware of the degradation of facilities in Knebworth.
A 31% increase in the number of dwellings is not justified when land to the west of Stevenage is already reserved for 3,100 homes.
The loss of Green Belt around Knebworth is totally contrary to Government policy and will lead to coalescence between Knebworth and its neighbours. The village will lose its identity. There would also be a loss of productive agricultural land.
The B197 is already very congested through the village due to traffic using it as an alternative to the A1(M). The additional housing will create more traffic on narrow side roads and bridges unsuitable for heavy traffic with the potential for an increase in the number of accidents.
The loss of a major employer, if site KB3 is developed for housing, will reduce employment opportunities and business development and would be a backward step for the local economy.