Local Plan 2011-2031 Proposed Submission Draft

Weston

This policy is considered generally sound. In particular we support sub-section (b) which seeks to ensure: "b) the long term vitality of the districts' villages by supporting growth, which provides opportunities for existing and new residents and sustains key facilities."

Site at Garthlands, Jacksons Lane, Weston

We support the inclusion of Weston as a Category A settlement where "general development will also be allowed within the defined settlement boundaries of the Category A Villages". These villages, of which Weston is one, contain a number of local facilities, which are of benefit to the local residents and assist in making the settlement more sustainable.

Paragraph 4.13
We wish to object to the defined Settlement Boundary as drawn around the settlement of Weston and seek to have it amended. We consider that is should be adjusted to incorporate land at Garthlands, an existing residential site which takes access off Jacksons Lane and which lies to the west of Munts Meadow and to the north of the recreation ground (see attached plan).

The site has been in residential use for many years and the original property on it was redeveloped a few years ago with two houses. It is a large site of 7,251m sq and is currently in use as garden land and is well screened with mature landscaping along its boundaries.

In terms of its location, it forms a part of the built form of the village and does not extend further into open countryside than does the existing housing in Munts Meadow. It also abuts the recreation ground to the south, it is, therefore, contained by uses other than the open countryside. As such, it is an integral part of the village and the boundary indicated on the Proposals Map should logically be modified to include the site within the proposed Settlement Boundary (see attached plan).

The site could provide for a small development of family houses, which would benefit from its central location, close to the core of the village, within a short walking distance of the school, shop and public houses. The site is not prominent from any point and is well contained by boundary treatments. Development would not have any adverse impact on either the character or appearance of Weston or the Conservation Area it abuts. Rather a small development would be entirely consistent with the thrust of Policy SP1 'Sustainable Development in North Hertfordshire', specifically sub-section (b) which states to ensure that "the long term vitality of the district's villages by supporting growth which provides opportunities for existing and new residents and sustains key facilities". The more local residents there are within walking distance of the village facilities, the more support will be given to them and consequently they are likely to remain viable. Its inclusion in the defined settlement boundary would be both physically and visually logical.

The site is in residential use. It is located close to the core of the settlement and does not extend into open countryside. There is no reason why it should not be included within the settlement boundary.

Paragraph 13.340
The boundary has been drawn very tightly around the substantive part of the settlement of Weston leaving little room for future development, other than on the identified Site WE1 (40 houses). Whilst we raise objection to that allocation, it is considered that additional housing should have been considered closer to the existing built form of the village, in smaller development' rather than as one large housing estate. This could be achieved by a more sympathetic and forensic approach to the established sites in Weston, that could be included within the Development Boundary.