Local Plan 2011-2031 Proposed Submission Draft

We strongly object to the plan to build 140 new homes outside the permitted boundary of our village.

This proposal, given its size and location is seriously disproportionate to the size of Barkway and contravenes both the National Planning policy and NHDC's own policies, which, by definition, compromises and undermines the integrity of the entire planning process. This must not happen.

In particular, the proposed development breaches the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) in the area of sustainable transport via clauses NPPF30, NPPF34, NPPF35, NPPF38 and NPPF95, in addition to your own NHDC policy SP6 - 6 sustainable transport, sustainability objective 2c and NHDC policy 29.

Furthermore, it also breaches the NPPF rules re local amenities via clauses NPPF38, NPPF55 and NPPF72

NHDC have previously excluded BK3 from past land allocation plans on the basis that the proposed site did not meet the minimum criteria or have sufficient amenities to promote sustainable development - this has not changed and neither should your previous decision.

The scale of the proposed B3 developments in addition to the B1 and B2 developments would result in a 65% increase in the number of houses in Barkway since 2011, which is clearly not sustainable.
The current infrastructure could not absorb this increase in population, specifically the highways, sewage system, employment and transport. It would have a detrimental effect on our rural community and a negative impact on the surrounding environment.
We urge you in the strongest possible terms and for the above reasons, to reject the proposed BK3 development.