Local Plan 2011-2031 Proposed Submission Draft

Whilst many will welcome the opportunity to reduce congestion in the centre of the village this plan takes no account of the total lack of any employment proposition. As such the specific section relating to KB3 further reduces the sustainability of Knebworth as a self-contained village supporting employmen. Further increasing housing stock in the centre of the village simply adds to the pressures proposed elsewhere in the plan replacing one set of access challenges with another. There is no evidence that developing the centre of the village takes into account any cooperation between the needs of locals (additional infrastructure) transport (servicing the needs of the new residents) utilities (water drainage et cetera) and the desire of the plan to deliver more housing.

Along with proposals kb two kb three and kb four the proposals for kb one have not been well prepared or considered. These proposals fail any sustainability test. Knebworth existing infrastructure already struggles to meet existing demand as evidenced by extended delays in obtaining medical appointments at the local surgery, the lack of provision for additional education facilities beyond junior, no proposal for additional transport links, no addressing of access currently highly restricted due to the East Coast mainline railway which creates permanent bottlenecks. In addition kb one reduces greenbelt land, will adversely impact on conservation areas and will adversely affect already identified sites of special scientific interest and wildlife habitat.

Contrary to the stated aim this proposal does nothing to reinforce green belt boundaries which are already well defined it simply moves the boundaries eroding the unique character of Knebworth and risking absorption into Stevenage. Wotton Road already struggles to sustain traffic demands peak times which will only increase. Wotton Road would have to be widened with the destruction of mature trees. The proposed density of houses is completely out of character with the immediate environment and the village in general. There would be loss of productive agricultural land. Surface drainage problems already in existence would increase.

As with kb one and kb four this proposal is unsustainable. It sees the removal of greenbelt which buffers the village from the A1. It does not address access issues due to the East Coast mainline. Impacts on conservation area. Like all the proposes for Knebworth it does not address infrastructure needs, road issues, additional strain on sewage and utility infrastructure.