Policy SP18: Site GA2 - Land off Mendip Way, Great Ashby

Great Ashby is already struggling in terms of provision of services. There are not enough school places at the junior school and no senior school within easy walking distance of the estate. Though this plan talks about land being available it is highly unlikely that this will be sufficient to cover the current need never mind the increased requirement. There is also no guarantee that this provision would actually result in a school/schools being built before or at the same time as the housing.

There is also a lack of other essential services such as a doctors and dentists surgeries and no leisure facilities close by. The road and transport network is also insufficient for more housing and the transport network in the region is already very congested. Most rush hours trains from Stevenage are standing room only and the A1 is regularly blocked with traffic at peak times.

Building more houses in this location will put more pressure on the current weak infrastructure and generally lower the quality of life for the existing residents.

Proposed large-scale development on the local green belt will drastically change the character of our area and impact my quality of life. In focusing development almost entirely around the area's main towns and Stevenage, planners are extending urban sprawl, destroying countryside and valuable agricultural land as well as the setting and special character of several communities such as Baldock and Graveley all of which are contrary to NPPF 80.
The NPPF also makes clear that, once established, green belt boundaries should only be altered in exceptional circumstances, through the preparation or review of the Local Plan. Meeting assessed housing need has been adjudged by Government not to meet the exceptional circumstances criteria.

There is not enough emphasis on prioritising development on brown field sites. This should be given much greater emphasis. NHDC should be pursuing a policy of Brownfield Sites First.
Further development around Great Ashby, especially at Roundwood would result in unacceptable increases in traffic coming down a very narrow road (Church Lane). Part of Church Lane is single track and it also constitutes a section of the Hertfordshire Way Walking Route so putting the ramblers at much greater risk.

This plan will breach my right to a private and family life . I bought my house to enjoy walks in the countryside without having to drive to do so. This plan is to destroy the countryside and seriously affect my well being. I would face a large financial loss as I would be forced to move to keep me healthy.

Don't need more housing as we don't have infrastructure to support it. Will affect parking, traffic, schools, GP surgeries

I am writing to place my objection about the GA2 development on land to the North of Great Ashby, Herts.
We urge North Hertfordshire District Council to remove GA1 and GA2 from the list of allocated sites for development in North Stevenage and consider the implications to all those involved/affected.
Objections/reasons against GA1/GA2 include:
Greenbelt is precious and should not be developed - building on these sites contravene protected status and this precedence must not be set. Greenbelt areas are important to prevent urban sprawl, stop towns from merging, protect the countryside and promote urban regeneration. The density of the proposed housing is of city nature and not suited to Greenbelt countryside, I believe it is not inline with the 2007 Urban design assessment report commissioned by NHDC.
The land in GA2 houses a rich and diverse amount of wildlife including endangered red kites, barn owls, bats and the currently protected badger. NHDC have a DUTY to conserve the biodiversity of this area. The muntjac deer population has already seriously decreased since Great Ashby was built. Further development would be catastrophic to our wildlife. GA2 would totally encompass ancient woodland and a natural spring, building in this area would destroy valuable wildlife habitats.
A development of this magnitude would be visibly intrusive and harm the character and appearance of an area of outstanding beauty scattered with listed buildings and villages, such as Graveley. This area is used and enjoyed by many people, footpaths and bridleways crossing the proposed sites GA1 & GA2 form part of the historic Hertfordshire way and are frequented by many ramblers, horse riders and dog walkers.
The infrastructure is not suitable for another 2000 homes. Traffic through Great Ashby is already at capacity and congested with many parked cars and can be quite dangerous at peak times.
Doctors surgeries in North Stevenage are struggling with the extra volume of patients already.
Proposed developments are remote from the retail and commercial centres of Stevenage and Hitchin, many businesses are already struggling in Stevenage and a number of shops have closed in the town centre. Extra housing would put severe pressure on an already lack of employment. For commuters, trains are already at full capacity during peak times and the A1 is congested.
Socially affordable housing is not mentioned within the proposals, surely local councils should be considering the needs of people already living in Stevenage & the huge waiting lists .
We understand that housing is needed but feel it would be more sensible to build a completely new settlement/garden city somewhere with reasonable transport links, but away from any towns or villages and NOT at the loss of important Green Belt or woodland. A new settlement that over time can grow to meet the needs of the people with the correct infrastructure designed into it from the beginning and would create thousands of jobs and new employment. We also urge local councils and government to build on brown field sites as an alternative and to look at the many thousands of boarded up council homes that lay dormant across the UK.

I am writing to place my objection about the GA2 development on land to the North of Great Ashby, Herts.

We urge North Hertfordshire District Council to remove GA1 and GA2 from the list of allocated sites for development in North Stevenage and consider the implications to all those involved/affected.

Objections/reasons against GA1/GA2 include:

Greenbelt is precious and should not be developed - building on these sites contravene protected status and this precedence must not be set.
Greenbelt areas are important to prevent urban sprawl, stop towns from merging, protect the countryside and promote urban regeneration. The density of the proposed housing is of city nature and not suited to Greenbelt countryside, I believe it is not inline with the 2007 Urban design assessment report commissioned by NHDC.

The land in GA2 houses a rich and diverse amount of wildlife including endangered red kites, barn owls, bats and the currently protected badger. NHDC have a DUTY to conserve the biodiversity of this area. The muntjac deer population has already seriously decreased since Great Ashby was built. Further development would be catastrophic to our wildlife. GA2 would totally encompass ancient woodland and a natural spring, building in this area would destroy valuable wildlife habitats.

A development of this magnitude would be visibly intrusive and harm the character and appearance of an area of outstanding beauty scattered with listed buildings and villages, such as Graveley. This area is used and enjoyed by many people, footpaths and bridleways crossing the proposed sites GA1 & GA2 form part of the historic Hertfordshire way and are frequented by many ramblers, horse riders and dog walkers.

The infrastructure is not suitable for another 2000 homes. Traffic through Great Ashby is already at capacity and congested with many parked cars and can be quite dangerous at peak times.

Doctors surgeries in North Stevenage are struggling with the extra volume of patients already.

Proposed developments are remote from the retail and commercial centres of Stevenage and Hitchin, many businesses are already struggling in Stevenage and a number of shops have closed in the town centre. Extra housing would put severe pressure on an already lack of employment. For commuters, trains are already at full capacity during peak times and the
A1 is congested.

Socially affordable housing is not mentioned within the proposals, surely local councils should be considering the needs of people already living in Stevenage & the huge waiting lists .

We understand that housing is needed but feel it would be more sensible to build a completely new settlement/garden city somewhere with reasonable transport links, but away from any towns or villages and NOT at the loss of important Green Belt or woodland. A new settlement that over time can grow to meet the needs of the people with the correct infrastructure designed into it from the beginning and would create thousands of jobs and new employment. We also urge local councils and government to build on brown field sites as an alternative and to look at the many thousands of boarded up council homes that lay dormant across the UK.

In relation to the ongoing consultation about the Local Plan 2011-2031 Submission draft, I hereby object to the policy SP18 - Site GA2 and the development of approx 600 new homes off Mendip Way in Great Ashby.

- The development will destroy woodland and therefore will destroy the habitat of wildlife such as owls and deer
- The woodland is frequently used for recreational purposes by the residents of Great Ashby, the development of new homes will on one hand destroy this green belt and the countryside but also increase the demand for green spaces by the prospective residents in the new proposed development
- The roads into Great Ashby are already very busy and furthermore often blocked by parking cars, increased traffic to the new homes will only add to the problem
- The proposed development is quite literally on my doorstep and therefore will destroy my view of the countryside
- My property currently benefits from a quiet surrounding, a new development opposite my house will increase the noise
- An addition of approx. 600 homes will dilute the prices of the existing properties in Great Ashby

I have read that there is a good chance that housing will be built on the green belt, at round wood , all because the council can make a massive profit from the houses, 7,200 per house.

This just can't be allowed to happen , we have lost enough green belt land in the Great ashby area, and can't allow for more traffic, and overstretched public services . Great ashby is full.
Everywhere is so built up now, and enough is enough.

I would like to support this proposal keeping in mind the requirement for new homes in Stevenage and better chances for first-time buyers to achieve their dream of buying a new house.

At the same time, I would like to request the concern bodies to address the issues raised and try to find a solution before approving the proposal rather than saying NO to the proposal itself.

The area identified as GA2 is unable to receive such a large development based on the means of access and provision of school places and local infrastructure.
The area known as NES2 was constructed under a planning policy which restricted the provision of parking and as a result the neighbouring roads are constantly gridlocked and in my opinion are dangerous as they cannot safely accomodate emergency services vehicles.

GA does not have sufficient facilities eg shops, GP buses, schools or parking for this many new homes.

Note you are also be damaging the local natural walk ways.

My House is directly adjacent to the proposed development. I use the green belt everyday to walk my dog and enjoy with my family. This development takes away that freedom and may affect my house value in doing so.
I feel that the influx of approx 1800 cars(including Roundwood development) on to our roads will be catastrophic for traffic and the condition of the roads themselves.
Local infrastructure will suffer; doctors surgeries (which we don't even have!), vets, schools and other essential community services will struggle to cope with the higher demand and waiting lists will sky rocket.

We as family household regularly take long walks out in the fields and woods which will be destroy with these plans. The amount of wildlife and foliage is not only beautiful, but a great attraction to the residents for this area. If these plans go ahead were will all the wildlife go? At some point an end has to come to destroying green belt land as soon there will be none left. It would be a crying shame as there are vast amounts of deer, badgers and foxes to name a few that inhabit this area and their homes will be destroyed. Not only this but as a young family I have concerns over round diamond school as know this is filled every year very quickly as it is and although I only live across the road my children will not be guaranteed a place and these plans would stretch the school to break point and also add to carbon footprint as other families will have to use a vehicle to take their children to schools further afield. Please do not let these plans go ahead we all take pride in our beautiful countryside and do not want to see it destroyed for the sake of the wildlife!!!

The LEP generally supports the designations of all 6 Strategic housing sites but considers that small scale employment related activities should be considered for the at least some of the sites, particularly the larger allocations SP14 and SP19; it should also promote the development of sustainable transport modes to serve such development

I have read that accommodation growth has exceeded its requirements in Stevenage for the period between 2011-2031 already.
I do not feel that the local infrastructure can cope with this significant amount of new houses. The local school is already over subscribed, the roads in and out are not equipped to deal with a mass increase of traffic and local medical services are ill equipped to cope with an influx of new patient applications.

I object to the planned development of both GA1 and GA2 due to the insufficient planned road infrastructure that will have an enormous impact by reducing available local parking, already a major issue (ie. Bray/Mendip Way , Cleveland & associated roads) and seriously increasing traffic volume both at a "micro level" (ie. Bray/Mendip Way, Cleveland and associated roads) and at a "macro level" (ie. The 2 main access roads in and out of Great Ashby - in particular the St.Nicholas exit).

In more detail:

1) Impact on available parking in an already congested area.

The plan to widen Bray Drive, Mendip Way (up to Haybluff) and Haybluff drive itself will reduce current available parking from around 100 to 55, a loss of 45 spaces. This will have a direct parking impact on these roads and all roads leading off of them (eg. Nevis, Cheviot etc) as there are no spare parking areas currently or planned.


NB. The above parking figures are taken from a) Current = actual numbers of cars parked at weekends (in late afternoon/early evening) as audited by residents in Mar 16 and NOT the extremely conservative figure of 68 parking spaces available as stated in Croudace off street parking spaces drawing Apr 16 submitted as part of the planning application. b) Revised = proposed figure of 55 as stated in Croudace off street parking proposals drawing Apr 16 submitted as part of the planning application.

Additionally these roads and all leading off them are impacted by;

a) Previous planning laws allowing only 1.5 car spaces per property (now 2 cars).
b) Previous planning laws allowing garage sizes to be built smaller 2.5m x 5m (vs current 3m x 7m). This directly impacts current parking congestion in Great Ashby by severely limiting the use of private garages for parking average size vehicles as they are too small.
Eg. Audi A3 Hatchback car width 1.8m (tyre to tyre) width (excluding door mirrors) leaves 70cm of 2.5m spare garage width or 35cm spare each side. Space required to open the car door and get out is an absolute minimum 50cm. You just can't get out!
c) The large & growing number of Homes Of Multiple Occupancy (HMO'S) resulting in further parking needs.
NB. According to the NHDC planning website (register of licensed HMO'S and management orders last updated Dec 15) 85% of recorded NHDC HMO properties are located in the Great Ashby area and 44% are located in the roads that will be directly impacted by the planned access to Roundwood (ie. Bray Drive, Mendip Way, Haybluff Drive and roads leading off these). Again this already severely impacts parking congestion in this area.
These figures do not include a) any properties granted licenses in 2016 and more importantly those un- licensed (Unregistered with NHDC or fall outside the license rules of 3 storeys + / 5 persons + living in residence).
d) No plans for Croudace to improve the planned 2nd entrance into the roundwood 350 via Calder Way thus putting all pressure on the primary Bray Drive entrance.

2) Impact of increased road traffic down Bray/Mendip way (up to Haybluff) & Haybluff due to;

a) No plans for Croudace to improve the planned 2nd entrance into the roundwood 350 via Calder Way thus putting all pressure on the primary Bray Drive entrance.

b) Moving the bus route to travel through the primary Bray Drive/Mendip Way entrance.

c) Planned Closure of Back Lane (from the exit of Calder Way up to the planned new connection through Haybluff Drive).

d) No consideration given to "the bigger picture" plans (GA1 & 2 combined) and the impact on roads (including Mendip Way) and local services . Surely the original planned 3rd exit "link road" out of Great Ashby is the only sensible route here.

3) Other "local" Great Ashby Infrastructure impacts.

a) Increased volume of traffic via the 2 exits out of Great Ashby (especially the St.Nicholas exit) particularly around peak travel times. NB. Already a major issue at peak times.

b) Impact on medical services (GP's) and schools as no plans to improve as part of planning application.

I do not believe that this proposed development is sustainable.

The existing road infrastructure is inadequate for construction traffic and would impose greatly on existing residents. Roads around Great Ashby are congested with on-street parking due to the flawed car-reduction measures from earlier planning regulations. Whichever access route from Stevenage was chosen for this site would be affected by this.

The existing primary school for Great Ashby, Round Diamond, is massively oversubscribed - it is extremely unlikely that any children from this site would be able to enter Round Diamond. The plan envisages a new 2FE primary school for this site but some existing Great Ashby residents would likely apply for children unable to get into Round Diamond for this new school. Accordingly, I do not believe that one 2FE primary school would be sufficient for this development. The plan offers few details on secondary school provision. Existing secondary school students from Great Ashby travel several miles to the secondary schools in Stevenage. Travel from this new development, being further from the centre of Stevenage, will be longer. There had previously been plans to relocate Thomas Alleyne school to land near Tilekiln farm, under the last Labour government, which were cancelled under the Coalition government. Nothing in the draft plan, other than a few vague references, gives a firm indication that plans to relocate a (or create a new) secondary school in the Great Ashby area is on the cards.

The plan is also insensitive to the natural environment, destroying valuable habitat and impinging on existing woodland. The current Great Ashby development has shown that euphemistic 'green corridors' are no substitute at all for open countryside. This will also adversely affect Great Ashby residents, who will have further to go to reach open countryside. This countryside is a valuable amenity used by many residents.

Public transport links for Stevenage are already stretched. Bus provision is sparse and inadequate. Trains from Stevenage at peak hours are packed. A number of residents at the planned sites would undoubtedly be commuters to London (or possibly Cambridge) putting still further pressure on this link.

I wish to object very strongly to the NHDC Local Plan 2011-2031 proposals relating to development at Great Ashby (referenced GA1 and GA2 - comprising 330 and 600 houses respectively ), especially GA1 (Roundwood). Both sites are within the Green Belt and my reasons are as follows:

* Due to its location at the extreme edge of the NHDC area, development at GA1 and GA2 does not address the housing needs of North Herts and therefore no 'exceptional circumstances' have been demonstrated which would warrant relaxing planning restrictions in the Green Belt (GB). Development here would be to serve the needs of Stevenage only. Stevenage planners should be looking to resolve their own housing needs (using brown field sites, more flats, better use of available land, etc), but if NHDC wish to work with Stevenage to solve their housing needs they should collaborate on more appropriate and most importantly, sustainable sites, such as West of Stevenage (with its close proximity to the town centre shopping district, business and leisure centres, rail/road connections) .This is the most logical and sustainable area for development in the Stevenage area and should be the first priority for development, rather than designating it as 'safeguarded land' for development at a later date.

* The current GB boundary at GA1 along Weston Road has already been re-located once as part of the wider GB expansion to enable the initial Great Ashby development to be built (which now comprises approximately 3,000 homes) and was only completed in 2011. When defining the boundary, planners would/should have satisfied themselves that the boundary would endure and not need to be altered, in accordance with guidance current at that time and with current NPPF policy. By developing at GA1 and GA2 NHDC would effectively be moving the GB boundary for as second time in this location. Other more appropriate sites should be considered before re-defining the Stevenage boundary here for a second time.

* Weston Road was selected by planners to define the GB boundary in the location of the proposed GA1 area, because it was considered 'robust' and 'defensible' and this was endorsed by the Environment Secretary of the time, Nicholas Ridley. I understand the condition of 'exceptional circumstances' already existed at that time, so if the current boundary was designed to be robust and defensible then, why is NHDC planning to disregard it and develop within the GB. This is completely against one of the key objectives of GB policy which is their permanence.

* Development at GA1 (and to a lesser extent GA2) is not sustainable and therefore should not be considered for housing. The proposed plan already acknowledges there would be significant problems with development here.

Developing the sites at GA1 and GA2 on the edge of Stevenage would have the effect of moving the green belt margin further away from Stevenage. According to the NPPF, when reviewing GB boundaries planners should 'take account of the need to promote sustainable patterns of development' (NPPF). Development at GA1 would not be sustainable and therefore extending Stevenage into the GB at these locations should not be considered. All the access roads to a potential development at GA1 are very narrow and widening would be either impossible or impractical. To be viable there would need to be a link road around the north of the sites, either connecting Great Ashby to A1M at Junction 8 or to more major roads into Stevenage. This would be either very expensive or in the latter case impossible due to the lack of available land/narrow roads through residential areas. There is no provision for such a road in the development plans.

The country lanes from Gravely and Weston are barely passable for 2 cars and Calder Way which would link GA1 to the rest of Great Ashby is traffic calmed, single track and with houses on both sides, so the development would not be easily accessible by car and impossible by bus. It is understood a new local access road linking Great Ashby to GA1 via Hay Bluff Drive (crossing Weston Road) is being considered by developers, but again Hay Bluff Drive is too narrow and frequently choked with parked cars, due to the failure of earlier planners/developers to insist on sufficient parking provision in the existing Great Ashby development. Parking is a particular problem as Great Ashby has one of the highest concentrations of homes of multiple occupancy (HMOs) in the county. Widening Hay Bluff Drive to accommodate buses for GA1 would just exacerbate an already intolerable parking problem, according to local residents. They are concerned that emergency services may not be able to access houses in the HBD/Martins Way area already, so taking away more parking spaces to widen access could make the area unsafe.

* Calder Way which would link GA1 to the rest of Great Ashby/Stevenage is single track. This narrow (and very effective) traffic calmed road was specifically included as a planning condition of the first phase of development at Great Ashby, to reduce rat running from Stevenage through Weston and Gravely. To make GA1 sustainable there would have to be better access to the site (as discussed above). This would specifically breach the traffic calming (effectively voiding the planning condition which has proved so effective to date) and would result in the flood gates being opened for rat running from all over Stevenage into Gravely and Weston. Breaching this earlier planning condition is totally unacceptable.

* One of the key purposes of GB is to assist in safeguarding the countryside from encroachment. Development at GA1 and GA2 will result in very significant encroachment into the countryside around the hamlets of Warrens Green and Halls Green, as well as the village of Weston.

Similarly, GB is designated to 'prevent urban sprawl' by keeping land permanently 'open'. Development at GA1 and GA2 will contribute yet again to the continued urban sprawl of Stevenage with the resultant slow merging of Stevenage, Hitchin , Letchworth and Baldock, all of which causes great harm to the GB and is completely contrary to GB guidance. Planning guidance states 'special circumstances' will not exist unless the potential harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, is clearly outweighed by other considerations' (NPPF). The proposed plan gives no explanation of why planners consider this harm is outweighed by other considerations in these locations. I do not believe it is.

* The proposed developments do not appear to have clear boundaries that would be defensible in future, (contrary to the NPPF) and further coalescence with Halls Green, Warrens Green and Weston would be inevitable, in the short term.

* It seems NHDC have based their proposal for development s GA1 and GA2 on the land being made available for development by the land owner and the desire of a developer to pursue a development, rather than any sound planning criteria.
I am not opposed to appropriate development in GB in accordance with planning guidance, where appropriate eg in my own village of Weston. Here the proposed development and effective new GB boundary is logical, defensible, durable and importantly development on the released land would be accessible, sustainable and clearly defined by the main road into the village.

I do not believe any criteria for demonstrating exceptional circumstances are met at GA2 or GA1. Neither site is sustainable and GA1 especially should be taken out of the Plan altogether. Efforts should be concentrated on West of Stevenage development and other proposed locations where exceptional circumstances can be demonstrated.

I consider the Plan is unsound in that it fails to be Effective in delivering stated objectives
The Plan urbanises many RoWs in the area. The Weston area is popular with walking groups from all parts of the County and beyond. The Hertfordshire Way will be affected as it passes the areas but more importantly a quiet lane between GA1 & GA2 will become more dangerous.

I am a resident of Grampian Place

-Insufficient existing local amenities and infrastructure to cope with existing housing let alone new development.
-The existing roads barely cater for the amount of cars in the area already.
-Local schools do not have enough space for admission to existing children let alone the increased families.
-Loss of Greenbelt land that should not be developed
-Destruction of habitat to local wildlife
-Environmental health deterioration from added pollution during construction and ongoing from new development
-Fibre network in area already at capacity
-Increased cars and safety issues this brings
-Sustainability of materials used in construction
-Sustainability of producing power for the network grid for new development

You cannot possibly approve the plan by the Croudace Homes Application. This will massively restrict parking on Bray Drive, Mendip Way and Haybluff Drive. It already has overcrowding where parking is concerned anyway. In the summer months, I'm amazed there hasn't been an accident there already. We chose to move to Great Ashby because of the lovely spaces and wonderful family atmosphere, don't ruin it by crowbarring loads more houses into it please!!! You also cannot possibly put a bus route through this village, its just not big enough by far.

I strongly object to the proposal for development at GA2 in the Green below for the following reasons:
1) Contravention of the following:
a. East of England Planning policies:
* Policy SS1 - Achieving Sustainable Development
* Policy SS7 - Green Belt
* Policy SS8 - The Urban Fringe
* Policy ENV2 - Landscape Conservation
* Policy ENV3 - Biodiversity and Earth Heritage
* Policy ENV5 - Woodlands
* Policy ENV7 - Quality in the Built Environment
b. North Herts District Local Plan with alterations
i. Policy 2
ii. Policy 4
iii. Policy 14
c. Great Ashby Woodland & District Park - Green Space Action Plan - 2015 - 2020

2) Poor and incorrect notification of affected residents
I live within 4m of the proposed GA4 boundary, I have not received any correspondence from HNDC, there has been no posted information along the boundary of the development, HNDC are trying to get this through by stealth. The consultation period should be extended and correct / formal letter / notification to all Great Ashby residents. If there is a lack of objections it is because people do not know of the development, not that they support it. No one I speak to along Cleveland Way knows about the proposals for GA2.

3) NHDC historic inability to masterplan and enforce condition on previous applications:
Previous historic planning policy and masterplanning by HNDC for Great Ashby has been short-sighted and negligent. Numerous issues with parking provision, the litany of failed healthcare provision for Great Ashby (we still have no Doctors surgery) and the woeful under provision of school places shows that HNDC cannot plan nor enforce even when they agree section 106 agreements with the developers.
4) Development in green belt in contravention of government guidelines:
To add to this the lazy planning policy to build on green belt rather that strategically focus on a new centre (Stevenage West) that is close to road & rail links and does not affect large numbers of existing residents. In addition to this the extended area for GA 2 did not form part of the last consultation, this large area incorporates woodland and comes within 4m of my house. I have not been formally notified of this consultation and as such I feel that the consultation process has not been correctly carried out. HNDC are trying to sneak in an expanded GA2 through the back door.
5) Previous application for GA11 considerations & protection of woodland
Looking back at the previous applications for GA11 (99/01135/1, 00/01793-1, 00/01285/1) the woodland north of Cleveland way is denoted as structured planting, I assume to reinforce the green belt line from the GA11 development and to protect the link between Brooches Woods and Claypitshill Woods, how can this now be incorporated into GA2, do the considerations of GA11 suddenly not apply ? they also reference drawing CDR00062-8B2/LZ tree protection zone to prevent destruction to Brooches Mead, this is now under threat from the GA2 proposals.
Reference to the Thomas Alleyne School re-location application:
Looking back at this application that was proposed to be on part of the land in GA2, it is clear in the application that the justification for development in green belt for the school was a 'very special circumstance', building more houses is and never will be a 'very special circumstance' to destroy Green Belt
6) Loss of secondary amenity spaces used by Great Ashby
I am sure that during the previous Great Ashby application great emphasis was put on the location of the houses to the Green belt and the use of the public footpaths as secondary amenity for the houses, this will be lost. The area of GA2 is a busy and well used walking and amenity space for all of the residents of Great Ashby, it needs to be protect not built on. In addition to the formal paths there are a number of informal paths, has anyone form the planning department even studied the impact of destroying this land will have on the local residents.
7) Access
The roads of Great Ashby are a danger, with the historic under provision of car parking spaces on street parking is rife and we are constantly being reminded by the Local Fire Brigade of the difficulty they have navigating Cleveland Way
8) The current denoted GA2 area did not form part of the previous consultation
The last consultation on HNDC development (Local Plan 2011 - 2031 preferred Options Dec 2014) did not have GA2 as large as this, it had been effectively been discounted from the previous to that consultation. How has this been enlarged when it formed no part of the previous consultation ? The consolation should be referred back to the previously denoted sizes & areas of GA2.
9) Destruction of Woodland, Biodiversity and the sanitisation / isolation of existing District woodlands
The opening statement states: "whilst ensuring the natural environment is protected and enhanced"
By destroying woodland and fields in GA2 does not serve to protect or enhance biodiversity, looking for net gains by substituting one area for another is not a strategic planning policy, it is a fix for a problem that does not exist. The woods to the north of Cleveland Way and to the south of GA2 are highlighted as part of the area for development this is a key biodiversity link between a number of woodland areas. this was planted in the 1980's to link these other woods and have ended up being a critical aspect of the biodiversity in Great Ashby. In addition to this the NHDC Great Ashby Woodland Walk (Appended) document clearly shows the importance of the woodland to the north of Cleveland way in connecting the two areas of wildlife. The proposals for GA2 will destroy this woodland walk.
The GA2 scheme is in contravention of the HNDC Green Space Action Plan 2015-2020 which shows the critical link between these woodland areas. This is reinforced in the HNDC District Green infrastructure plan, highlighting both woods as 'District Woodland and 'upland Oakwoods' and Wet Woodlands'. To enclose such areas in residential development will kill the ability for wildlife to migrate too and from them and they will be destroyed.

Nine acre spring is also denoted in the development area, this woodland has been in existence since the 19th Century and will be destroyed. All of the following woodland have been in existence since at least 1878 - Brooches Woods, Woods to the north of 'Chalk Pit' now called Nice Acre Spring. Again referring back to the Thomas Alleyne school application Vincent & Gorbing carried out a review of the woodland around the site and denoted the woods to the North of Cleveland Way as Woodland' along with Nice Acre Spring and clearly shows it linking the 'Major wildlife sites of Brooches Wood & Claypitshill. (Vincent & Gorbing Drawing 4682 019d appended)

There has been a total lack of thought in designating this area for housing.

Access - Current access is totally in capable of dealing with the existing population and the vehicles that go with that. Mendip Way is already already a ' rat run' that is too narrow for cars to park and pass safely, increasing the households with' primary access' from Mendip Way is utter madness. the weight of traffic will bring this area to a halt at certain times of the day during morning and evening peak periods.

There is no provision to prevent more HMO's in this area. The developers will inevitably build large family homes of 4/6/6 bed rooms. a number of these, especially the three floor town house style property, will lend themselves to investors turning them into multi let properties of 7/8/9 rooms. these occupants will all have their own cars. Public transport in this area is an absolute non-entity. It only runs through the day and stops early evening so people have no option to drive.

With these 857 properties being suggested, where are they all going to park ?

Where are they going to take the children to school or the doctors surgery.

This is an ill thought out plan just to satisfy quotas from central government.

By attracting more people into this area, there is no employment uses. People travel somewhere else to work.

Where are they going to park their cars when they go to the station for example in Letchworth or Stevenage? there is insufficient space now before these ridiculous expansion plans are implemented.

Developers only build for profit, they are not interested in the sustainability of an area if it gets in the way of profit.

Parking in Great Ashby is poor at the best of times and often causes disputes between neighbours. To reduce the parking further will cause more issues. This is a residential area and to create wider roads for more traffic and bus routes will turn this area into a small town without any additional amenities to cater for the influx of people that will live here. Residents of Great Ashby bought their homes based on the current layout and facilities of the area, house prices could potentially drop and the uniqueness of Great Ashby will be destroyed.

This site should be rejected because it is unnecessarily utilising green belt land and does not contain adequate infrastructure to support a development of 600 homes adjacent to Great Ashby, a community of nearly 6,000 residents which in itself is lacking health service facilities and a secondary school.
Access to the site via Great Ashby Way and Mendip Way is abysmal and based on an inadequate traffic survey which has been proved to be seriously flawed by a traffic consultant commissioned by Great Ashby Community Council, Graveley and Weston Parish Councils.
If these sites were to be approved together with NS1 it will achieve absolute coalescence for Great Ashby and Graveley with Stevenage Borough, a situation which informed residents seek to avoid.

I strongly object due to the impact on the surrounding countryside, wildlife etc and the fact that the local infrastructure cannot cope with this number of new homes so close to a relatively new existing housing estate. There are not enough schools, doctors surgeries etc for the existing neighbourhood let alone another 900!

Insufficient local amenities, road access, health care and schools exist to support this proposed development.
Will have significant effects on local wildlife.

Insufficient infrastructure to cope with the proposed new development. For example schools, doctors surgery, road traffic and parking.

There is not enough infrastructure within Great Ashby to support this. Previous promises of new schools/doctors surgery and moving the entrance to Serpentine Park have all been renamed on.

Having that amount of traffic in Great Ashby will end up with serious incidents happening.

The basis to build on green belt hasn't been met here.

The beautiful views will be ruined for years.