Baldock, Bygrave and Clothall Application Letter

I wish to register my firm approval and support for the application made by on 15th February 2017 by Bygrave Parish Council on behalf of the Baldock, Bygrave and Clothall Planning Group for the designation of a Neighbourhood Planning Area covering the parishes of Bygrave and Clothall and the administrative area of Baldock. I trust that NHDC will make a favourable and prompt determination of this application.

I am writing in support of Bygrave Parish Council in its application for a Neighbourhood Planning Area Designation. The area covers the whole of Baldock which will be affected by the proposed new housing and the two areas which immediately adjoin it which will also be impacted by the developments. It is important that there is a group which looks into the impact of the proposed developments on the whole designated area especially as the various sites will add to existing problems regarding traffic flow and the lack of infrastructure and a plan needs to be developed which takes all these points into account, rather than simply adding housing to the town in a piecemeal way.
I wholly support this group and urge you to agree to its application.

Hertfordshire County Council Property (Development Services) have no comment to make on the application for a Neighbourhood Planning Area Designation - Baldock, Bygrave and Clothall.

I am writing in response to your letter regarding Bygrave Parish Council's application for the designation of a Neighbourhood Plan Area for the Parishes of Bygrave and Clothall and the administrative area of Baldock.
The Waste Site Allocations Development Plan document identifies a number of Employment Land Areas of Search (ELAS). It is considered that ELAS that are predominantly used for general industry (B2) and storage and distribution (B8) are compatible with waste management uses.
The District Council should be mindful that the proposed Neighbourhood Plan Area coincides with two of the council's proposed waste site designations as identified in the Waste Site Allocations Development Plan document.
ELAS201 is located in the Neighbourhood Plan Area designation, on the edge of Baldock, adjacent to Cambridge Mainline Railway. At present there are no waste management facilities operating within the designated area.
ELAS026 is situated adjacent to the Neighbourhood Plan Area designation, located in Letchworth Garden City, adjacent to the B658 Baldock Road. The designated area contains one Household Waste Recycling Centre, which is accessed off Blackhorse Road as well as a Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Treatment facility.
Both ELAS201 and ELAS026 are currently identified as employment areas in the adopted North Herts District Local Plan and both sites have potential for future waste uses.
To view Hertfordshire's Waste Site Allocations Development Plan document and to find out more information on Employment Land Areas of Search, please follow the link below:
https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/services/recycling-waste-and-environment/planning/planning-in-hertfordshire/waste-planning/waste-planning.aspx
In terms of Minerals, the District Council should be mindful that there is a small area in the southern part of the Neighbourhood Plan Area designation, located in the Clothall Parish, which is covered by a Mineral Consultation Area.
Mineral Consultation Areas are defined as geographical areas that include deposits of minerals that are at great risk from future sterilization by built development. It should be noted that any planning applications submitted to District/Borough Councils, that propose non-mineral development in Minerals Consultation Areas, may not be determined until the county council has had the opportunity to comment on whether the development may unacceptably sterilize the mineral resources.
To find out more information on the Mineral Consultation Areas please view the Mineral Consultation Areas Supplementary Planning Document by following the link below:
https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/services/recycling-waste-and-environment/planning/planning-in-hertfordshire/minerals-planning/minerals-consultation-areas/minerals-consultation-areas-supplementary-planning-document.aspx
It should be noted, when the Parish Council develops its vision and objectives for shaping development and growth within the neighbourhood, that minerals and waste matters will need to be taken into account as Minerals and Waste Local Plans form part of the Development Plan. New development and growth of an area results in the generation of waste and this will be an important aspect needing consideration in due course.
The county council would like to be consulted at future stages in the production of the Neighbourhood Plan.

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We support the application for such a plan. We would suggest that as part of the environmental considerations, attention is paid to the heritage assets of the area and their settings. This is in accordance with bullet point 3, Point 7 on Achieving Sustainable Development (Introduction to the NPPF), Chapter 12 of the NPPF Conserving and Enhancing the historic environment, and Guidance Notes from Historic England.

HGT is aware of historic gardens or remains thereof at Clothall and Quickswood and would be happy to assist with this aspect if desired.

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We have no comments to make at this time, however if the Neighbourhood Plan progresses we would welcome the opportunity to make representations on draft stages on any aspects relevant to Anglian Water.

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The Baldock Society gives their full support to the establishment of the neighbourhood area and the development of a neighbourhood plan for the areas of Baldock, Bygrave and Clothall.

At a recent members evening a vote was taken and it received unanimous support from the members attending to support the aims and objectives of the organisation undertaking the practical work to prepare a neighbourhood plan.