Local Plan 2011-2031 Proposed Submission Draft
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Local Plan 2011-2031 Proposed Submission Draft
Policy SP17: Site HT1 - Highover Farm, Hitchin
Representation ID: 1061
Received: 27/11/2016
Respondent: Mr Rachel Cheffy
Legally compliant? No
Sound? No
Duty to co-operate? No
Due to the loss of greenbelt, dramatic increase in congestion on already saturated roads, the merging of two quite individual towns and the wiping out of farmland, wildlife and open space I strongly oppose the development of new homes on Highover Farm.
- Significant contribution to Green Belt Assessment
- Current infrastructure is inadequate: access to Hitchin station and town, parking for the station
- Drainage and run off
- Suburban sprawl will replace balanced vistas
- A1M already saturated at peak times
- Train services already at capacity
According to the Green Belt Assessment ref 39, Highover Farm, makes a significant contribution to the green belt.
Green belt is green belt. I made a conscious decision to live where I do due to the nature of the land and its designation as green belt and by definition protected from development. When I acquired the property the land registry search confirmed the designation of land to the west of the property as adjacent to green belt and countryside. By proposing to develop on the green belt the goal posts are being moved.
Having concluded that Section 22 is greenbelt to then sub divide it seems a nonsense.
Open space and green belt once lost, is lost forever. The diversity of nature and wildlife, eg the existence of bats, newts, frogs and birdlife are thanks to the proximity of the farm. Trees on the farm run alongside the rear of my property and ensure I am not overlooked.
Replacing open fields with concrete will impact on drainage and run offs. Suburban sprawl will replace balanced vistas.
The distance of the proposed development from the town and train station will mean that most people will take their cars, thereby increasing congestion. The proposed access to the development will add more traffic to existing residential roads which are already difficult to navigate due to parked cars and where children play.
Current infrastructure is inadequate, specifically access to Hitchin station and town from the Letchworth side of Hitchin. Parking for the station is also already an issue, with residential roads being used and main roads restricted in width due to roadside parking (eg St Michael's Road, Hitchin). Every single route into and out of Hitchin suffers from severe congestion and therefore any additional housing will only exacerbate the situation.
The A1M is already saturated at peak times and train services are at capacity. Upgrading the A1M to a "smart" motorway may ease current levels of congestion but may not accommodate yet more traffic due to increased population associated with the proposed housing developments.
