Local Plan 2011-2031 Proposed Submission Draft

With reference to your decision on the Proposed Local Plan, I would ask you to consider the disproportionate impact that building 349 new homes will have on Codicote village, a scale of development that is completely inappropriate and totally excessive. I believe it would cause significant harm to Codicote, its rural setting and the Green Belt.
Codicote village would be overwhelmed and its inadequate facilities/ infrastructure unable to cope with such a huge concentration of new housing representing a 36% enlargement to the settlement area of the village (as shown on NHDC's map).
Traffic congestion is already as major problem for Codicote and a daily nightmare for its residents. Codicote's roads are mainly narrow country lanes which cannot cope with existing traffic volumes. Increasing traffic volumes on these unsuitable roads will have serious implications for road safety.
As concluded by the SRC commissioned Traffic Report, Codicote, as a location for new development, does not minimize the need to travel, or maximize the use of sustainable transport modes and the proposed development at Codicote is not, therefore, compliant with paragraph 34 of the NPPF.
With regard to Green Belt, the Planning Minister is very clear that Green Belt boundaries should only be adjusted in exceptional circumstances and with the support of local people. Furthermore, he states that the Government has been repeatedly clear that the demand for housing alone will not change Green Belt boundaries.
There is no evidence that NHDC has the support of local people in adjusting the Green Belt boundaries (quite the opposite in fact). Additionally there are no exceptional circumstances beyond the demand for housing.
NHDC's Local Plan therefore does not comply with the Government's National Planning policy and it fails the test of 'soundness' in two significant respects;
1. Codicote does not represent a sustainable location for new development, and;
2. Misappropriation of Green Belt land for housing when there are still brown field sites available.
I don't believe that adding hundreds of additional homes in our villages is at all justified when there is a far preferable option to destroying our historic villages. Creation of a new settlement, a Garden Village or Town, fully functioning with all modern amenities, should be given more serious consideration by NHDC.
In conclusion, I do not believe that NHDC's Local Plan has been positively prepared, is justified, effective or consistent with national policy. Surely 36%+ growth of a historic village cannot be the most justified/appropriate course of action.
I firmly believe that NHDC's Local Plan would do significant harm to Codicote and the Green Belt, so I would urge you, to use your powers, to reject it.