Local Plan 2011-2031 Proposed Submission Draft

General Comments

1. Historic Towns
I am disappointed and surprised that Letchworth Garden City is not included in your designation of historic towns. The world's first garden city is of national and international importance, much studied and visited by researchers and planners. It is valued too by residents.

2. Numbers
Where have the enormous numbers of required housing come from? Increases of this size cannot be justified for the extension of small settlements such as Letchworth. Many existing residents are beyond child bearing age, so will not be producing more children who require housing. Where will the new residents come from? Letchworth has now reached its planned maximum size of 32,000.

3. Green Belt
Letchworth's Green Belt is an integral part of the garden city. It is where the idea of a green belt was pioneered. It has been much copied around this country and is revered around the world. It is part of national legislation, a valuable and popular part of planning laws. It has been reaffirmed by the present government which states that green belt should not be built on just to meet housing numbers. Open space is needed as well as housing.

Specific Areas
1. LG1 Land north of the Grange Estate
This area is not suitable for a large number of houses, which will destroy the green belt leaving only a narrow one field strip between Letchworth and Stotfold. As well as preventing urban sprawl, this land is valuable for biodiversity.

2. LG3 Land north east of Kristiansand Way
Here the green belt provides separation between Letchworth and the village of Norton, which has a long history as a separate settlement and is valued as such. There are archaeological sites here which need investigation and should not be built on.

General Comments

1. Historic Towns
I am disappointed and surprised that Letchworth Garden City is not included in your designation of historic towns. The world's first garden city is of national and international importance, much studied and visited by researchers and planners. It is valued too by residents.

2. Numbers
Where have the enormous numbers of required housing come from? Increases of this size cannot be justified for the extension of small settlements such as Letchworth. Many existing residents are beyond child bearing age, so will not be producing more children who require housing. Where will the new residents come from? Letchworth has now reached its planned maximum size of 32,000.

3. Green Belt
Letchworth's Green Belt is an integral part of the garden city. It is where the idea of a green belt was pioneered. It has been much copied around this country and is revered around the world. It is part of national legislation, a valuable and popular part of planning laws. It has been reaffirmed by the present government which states that green belt should not be built on just to meet housing numbers. Open space is needed as well as housing.

Specific Areas
1. LG1 Land north of the Grange Estate
This area is not suitable for a large number of houses, which will destroy the green belt leaving only a narrow one field strip between Letchworth and Stotfold. As well as preventing urban sprawl, this land is valuable for biodiversity.

2. LG3 Land north east of Kristiansand Way
Here the green belt provides separation between Letchworth and the village of Norton, which has a long history as a separate settlement and is valued as such. There are archaeological sites here which need investigation and should not be built on.

General Comments

1. Historic Towns
I am disappointed and surprised that Letchworth Garden City is not included in your designation of historic towns. The world's first garden city is of national and international importance, much studied and visited by researchers and planners. It is valued too by residents.

2. Numbers
Where have the enormous numbers of required housing come from? Increases of this size cannot be justified for the extension of small settlements such as Letchworth. Many existing residents are beyond child bearing age, so will not be producing more children who require housing. Where will the new residents come from? Letchworth has now reached its planned maximum size of 32,000.

3. Green Belt
Letchworth's Green Belt is an integral part of the garden city. It is where the idea of a green belt was pioneered. It has been much copied around this country and is revered around the world. It is part of national legislation, a valuable and popular part of planning laws. It has been reaffirmed by the present government which states that green belt should not be built on just to meet housing numbers. Open space is needed as well as housing.

Specific Areas
1. LG1 Land north of the Grange Estate
This area is not suitable for a large number of houses, which will destroy the green belt leaving only a narrow one field strip between Letchworth and Stotfold. As well as preventing urban sprawl, this land is valuable for biodiversity.

2. LG3 Land north east of Kristiansand Way
Here the green belt provides separation between Letchworth and the village of Norton, which has a long history as a separate settlement and is valued as such. There are archaeological sites here which need investigation and should not be built on.