Local Plan 2011-2031 Proposed Submission Draft

I object to paragraph 13.37 and in particular to the land ref BK3 in Barkway. I am not convinced that a target of over 14,500 new houses for NHDC is warranted. When so many houses are being repossessed, such a target is unrealistic and its apportionment over the towns and villages in North Herts is disproportionate. Barkway is a linear village comprising currently 329 houses. The proposals under BK3 are totally disproportionate to the size of Barkway. Barkway, in the plan, has been categorised as an "A" village along with the likes of Ashwell and Barley. This is wholly wrong and if the only criterion that Barkway meets is to have a school, this is an incorrect categorisation. Barkway has few amenities unlike Ashwell and Barley. There is no shop, no doctor, no dentist and few businesses. And poor public transport with badly maintained roads.
BK3 was in 2012 deemed to be inappropriate for valid reasons. Those reasons still apply, so why later on has BK3 been allocated and adopted. There has been no change to the original reasons for not allocating BK3, so one can only presume that an accommodating landowner has come forward with a proposal in respect of BK3 which helps NHDC meet the government's target for new houses. The plan is flawed as it contravenes so many of the governments policies. The National Planning Policy Framework states "the presumption in favour of sustainable development. BK3 in its entirety when combined with the other proposed developments for Barkway clearly breaches this policy. BK3 contravenes so many NPPF requirements there are almost too many to mention but to list the main ones:
The infrastructure and amenities of Barkway are insufficient to accommodate a 62% increase in housing and BK3 would not be sustainable; BK3 does not conserve or enhance the local environment nor does it improve the landscape, in fact it would destroy the current landscape; site BK3 is grade II agricultural land and has been put forward ahead of lower graded land; BK3 would vastly increase and affect pollution in the area; the need for most new homes to have at least 2 cars will greatly affect traffic in the area due to poor public transport and will increase the risk of accidents; there is no evidence that BK3 will provide new business for the area and in fact will increase the need for people to travel far and wide to find work, thus putting more pressure on the already poorly maintained roads, and moreover will have a negative effect on the prosperity of the area; noise in the area will increase and will have an adverse effect on the adjoining stud farm where valuable foals and horses graze - the effect on this business and current employment could be severe; an estate of the proposed size of BK3, bolted on to the edge of Barkway will not encourage integration, no amenities will be in walking distance and therefore occupants will have to drive everywhere causing greater pollution, hazard and isolation; in fact BK3 contravenes not only many of the governments policies but also many of those decreed by NHDC. Therefore it should be removed from the plan.