Local Plan 2011-2031 Proposed Submission Draft

1) Regarding national policy / strategy. A better view of sustainable development might be viewed as considering how to regenerate areas of low employment where there are often brown field sites which could be used to develop housing in the future. 5500 new homes have already been built in N Herts and insufficient improvements have been made to local infrastructure. Therefore, to build more homes before this issue is addressed makes no sense.
2) The strategy does not seem to be positively prepared for the quantity of homes impacting one area and is therefore unjustifiable. Having read 'your' vision, I am intrigued as to who shares this and whether you live in a part of North Herts to be built on. It is already a vibrant, pleasant and safe place to live.
3) The proposal to build 700 homes on site HT1 (Land at Highover Farm) would mean that 70% of the 1009 allocated home and almost 50% of total allocation for Hitchin are in this one area. This would have a dramatic effect on the immediate local area and is entirely disproportionate in the allocation of new housing across both the town and North Herts.
4) Furthermore, it is a genuine concern that the distinction between Hitchin and Letchworth will be lost along with the individuality which makes the market town of Hitchin and heritage town of Letchworth, reducing the green space in between. It is entirely unreasonable to expect a single town (Hitchin) and a specific area (HT1) within a town to bear the brunt of these unwelcome proposals.
5) Given that 85 new homes are in the process of being built less than 1 mile away by the Woolsworth / Cambridge road junction, which already floods easily and is extremely congested, even outside of peak travel times, a further 700 homes in the near vicinity, more homes will further exacerbate the problems.
6) Given that there will be significant impact on the local motorway and rail networks which are already beyond capacity, even with some improvements on junctions/roads, there is simply insufficient infrastructure and space to meet needs. Pedestrian access to the rail station is inadequate and an issue which has repeatedly failed to be addressed, even with recent new developments. More development without improving access by foot and is unacceptable. There is also inadequate parking at the railway station giving rise to parking issues on local roads and increased parking restrictions.
7) Publishing a 254 page document on proposals for building new homes in N Herts and the daunting format of the local plan publication stage representation form are in themselves barriers and a disincentive for some people to object. I understand this is the bureaucratic order of things.
The reference numbers on the following points are taken from the 254 proposal document
8) Reference to 9.20. Existing Residents. This would have a large impact on existing residents in the Armour Rise, Highover Way, Great Dane and surrounding roads. In particular, Armour is a quiet cul de sac which residents have specifically chosen to live in because it is quiet and not a through road. Indeed several children live in the close. The proposed homes will add significantly to traffic, noise and speed of traffic.
9) Reference D4; air quality. The loss of the green farm land and the building of new homes will undoubtedly impact on air quality due to reduced green space, increased cars and inhabitants.
10) Reference NE1 Landscapes 11.1 valued landscapes. The proximity of the farm is a key reason for living in Armour Rise & surrounding streets. From an economical point of view, it is very short sighted of any government to reduce the potential for the country to produce food without the need for additional imports, reducing food miles and sustaining the UK farming economy. From a residential point of view, living near the farm gives a genuine sense of a semi-rural location which is invaluable from a sense of well-being as once you travel into Hitchin or local commuter routes, the feeling of congestion and over-crowding are both very intense and unpleasant.
11) Reference NE6 designated biodiversity and geological sites. I have newts and frogs in my garden and bats regularly visit and feed in the garden. A tawny owl also roosts in the trees at the bottom of my garden just within the boundaries of the farm and has hunted for food in my garden. A sparrow hawk has also been seen flying through the garden.
12) NE7 reducing flood risk. Whenever there is moderate to heavy rain, there is flooding on Woolgrove Road at the bottom of the hill. Building on the farm land at the top of the hill will exacerbate this as there is more run off caused by the concreting over of the farmland in homes and roads and there is less drainage land.
13) Local amenities. The local college has recently been turned into housing. Where will the residents of the new housing receive their post 16.