Local Plan 2011-2031 Proposed Submission Draft

Chapter 4, Policy SP2: Whitwell is already a sizeable village and struggling from the lack of infrastructure to support this. Therefore, the evidence used to identify sustainable villages is flawed. The road network to the village is narrow and frequently blind; 'near misses' are an all to frequent occurrence. Public transport is extremely poor, there is no secondary school and the single shop limited.

Chapter 13, Site Allocation SP2: The NHDC approach does not comply with NPPF. No consideration has been taken of the flood risk and a sequential approach has not been followed in site selection. NHDC's own evidence states that large housing extensions to Whitwell could have an unacceptable visual impact due to high visual sensitivities with cross country views.

Chapter 13, site allocation SP2: The site has a proven flood history and is identified as at high risk of surface water flooding, as recognised in the Council's Strategic Flood Risk Assessment. The NPPF states that development should be steered to areas with the lowest chance of flooding - this is exactly the opposite.

Chapter 13, site allocation SP2: The wholly impracticable infrequency and poor connection of public transport to Whitwell means that it is not sustainable, as it will depend heavily on the use of private cars. Moreover, there is no cycleway network and the lanes mentioned earlier would pose a danger to that mode of transport. The NHDC Planning Committee on August 25 determined that required sustainable drainage (SUDS) would have unacceptable impact on the visual impact of the site and the application was refused. Alternative solutions will require underground tanks and pumps which are also not sustainable

NPPF Requirement to empower local people to shape their surroundings (Paragraph 150): Strength of local feeling towards development on this site is well known to NHDC, as evidenced by attendance of the planning meetings; yet the Local Plan has ignored our community. The site is not needed to meet the identified housing need, but NHDC Planners seem determined to encourage its development even with known objections, environmental and flooding concerns together with the visual impact on the intrinsic beauty of the countryside. Thames Water state lack of sewerage capacity. The Planners even ignore their own Planning Committee who recently rejected the site for development

Allocation of SP2 for housing: The site was originally intended as Green Belt. This was supported by the Parish Council and the villagers - it is a valuable asset to our community and a very popular short 'ring' walk. NHDC has provided no justification for the change in status. The late submission has not given the Parish Council or villagers the opportunity to be empowered and ignored their wishes for SP2 to remain Green Belt

For these reasons we consider that SP2 should be removed from the 2011 - 2031 Local Plan