MM 248 / FM 129

How is the Council addressing traffic congestion and air pollution? 971 additional homes will push Hitchin even further above legal limits for air pollution. The location of this site will saturate the road infrastructure, which is already under severe strain.

The amount of housing proposed is not evidenced by current housing needs in Hitchin. Current needs are not for private developers housing or for "affordable" housing which is not realistically affordable at 80% of current market rates. The need is for council and social housing.

The proposed housing does not seem to address the need for environmentally sustainable biodiversity nor climate catastrophe building standards in terms of solar power generation, reduced gas usage for heating and cooking, insulation and grey waste water collection. No account is taken of the future greater electric transmission network requirements.

There does not seem to be a realistic assessment of the additional traffic impacts upon congestion and pollution.

The housing projections are now out of date. The house numbers for Hitchin should be decreased in line with current trends and economics, not increased, so the need to be build on new Green Belt sites should be reduced. The Strategic Housing Site of 700 houses plus all the current, proposed and potential urban developments should remove the need for small Green Belt development sites.

I am writing to express my concern about the recent planning application for 58 houses on a green field site at the top of Gray’s Lane, west Hitchin.
Development of the proposed site will impact on the quality of the green belt in the area by substantially increasing the housing density at the edge of the town outside the current developed boundary. The proposal will mean that if approved, the buffer between Hitchin and Luton, is further reduced.
The proposed site and its environs is currently home to a wide variety of wildlife. The variety of species identified by the Save Hitchin Greenbelt group has already been submitted to the council and the areas importance to local wildlife was recognised and resulted in the upholding of tree preservation orders on the trees and hedging bordering the site in question.
The proposed site forms part of a popular walking rout for the local community. The route is well used for recreational, pleasure and exercise and provides accessible access to the countryside for a wide range of people currently living in Hitchin. Research tells us that access to green space is important for people’s physical and mental well-being. The proposed development will have the effect of urbanising the rout and making it less attractive and accessible to local people.
Whilst I recognise that the local local plan currently under development indicates a need for further housing development in the Hitchin area, the preservation of the green belt must be prioritised for the well-being of all. Additionally experience tells me that development of this site is unlikely to meet the current local housing need but will instead lead to further population growth and drive the need for greater expansion in the future.
I urge you to refuse this application and preserve Hitchin’s current boundaries and Green belt.