Local Plan 2011-2031 Proposed Submission Draft

I have seen some of the information publicised in connection with your proposed local plan and have also read Stephen McPartlands comments in connection with the proposals.

Unfortunately, I have been away and unable to make a detail comment on the whole plan at this stage but I would like to say that I agree with Stephen McPartland comments and would also like to add my own observations and concerns in relation to the scale of the proposed expansion and the potential implications and impact, should the plan be approved, on the rural landscape and character of Hertfordshire and existing infrastructure.

My initial comments in relation to Codicote are as follows:

* The proposed 315 new houses represent a growth of 25% and question whether this growth is actually required. Stephen McPartland also makes comment about additional houses that have already been approved that seem not to be included in these figures.

* The provision of these additional properties will impact on the existing rural character and landscape of the area.

* I understand that there is no new infrastructure planned. The addition of the proposed housing will therefore have a detrimental impact on the existing traffic flow through the village, the car parking and road safety, schooling and the supply of power, water and drainage. We are already subject to repeated power cuts in this area.

At first glance it is clear:

Area CD2 will be visible from the B656 as you drive up and down the hill (on the west and northern boundaries) and will be detrimental to the existing landscape character of the rolling rural landscape along the road. New hedge/tree planting are unlikely to screen the new development due to the existing contours.

Area CD3 is more secluded but is at the base of a valley and accessed from a road that already presents severe access difficulties in bad weather due to ice and with added parking problems as residents park higher up the road so they can get out in the mornings.

Area CD5 is more secluded but is shown to have an access onto St Albans Road which is a rural lane and already very busy at peak times.

Extensive tree and shrub planting will be required (not odd trees, grass areas etc as shown on the west of Stevenage proposals in the past) if any of the these schemes are to settled into the fabric of the existing rural landscape.

However, I do not believe this will be sufficient (representing a mere sticking plaster) against what is a fundamental problem of over development of the area. This overdevelopment will impact severely on the character, landscape, infrastructure of the existing village and is completely out of scale and character and therefore should be considered as inappropriate development in the area.

I would therefore ask the Inspector to turn down the proposed NHDC local plan.

I have seen some of the information publicised in connection with your proposed local plan and have also read Stephen McPartlands comments in connection with the proposals.

Unfortunately, I have been away and unable to make a detail comment on the whole plan at this stage but I would like to say that I agree with Stephen McPartland comments and would also like to add my own observations and concerns in relation to the scale of the proposed expansion and the potential implications and impact, should the plan be approved, on the rural landscape and character of Hertfordshire and existing infrastructure.

My initial comments in relation to Codicote are as follows:

* The proposed 315 new houses represent a growth of 25% and question whether this growth is actually required. Stephen McPartland also makes comment about additional houses that have already been approved that seem not to be included in these figures.

* The provision of these additional properties will impact on the existing rural character and landscape of the area.

* I understand that there is no new infrastructure planned. The addition of the proposed housing will therefore have a detrimental impact on the existing traffic flow through the village, the car parking and road safety, schooling and the supply of power, water and drainage. We are already subject to repeated power cuts in this area.

At first glance it is clear:

Area CD2 will be visible from the B656 as you drive up and down the hill (on the west and northern boundaries) and will be detrimental to the existing landscape character of the rolling rural landscape along the road. New hedge/tree planting are unlikely to screen the new development due to the existing contours.

Area CD3 is more secluded but is at the base of a valley and accessed from a road that already presents severe access difficulties in bad weather due to ice and with added parking problems as residents park higher up the road so they can get out in the mornings.

Area CD5 is more secluded but is shown to have an access onto St Albans Road which is a rural lane and already very busy at peak times.

Extensive tree and shrub planting will be required (not odd trees, grass areas etc as shown on the west of Stevenage proposals in the past) if any of the these schemes are to settled into the fabric of the existing rural landscape.

However, I do not believe this will be sufficient (representing a mere sticking plaster) against what is a fundamental problem of over development of the area. This overdevelopment will impact severely on the character, landscape, infrastructure of the existing village and is completely out of scale and character and therefore should be considered as inappropriate development in the area.

I would therefore ask the Inspector to turn down the proposed NHDC local plan.

I have seen some of the information publicised in connection with your proposed local plan and have also read Stephen McPartlands comments in connection with the proposals.

Unfortunately, I have been away and unable to make a detail comment on the whole plan at this stage but I would like to say that I agree with Stephen McPartland comments and would also like to add my own observations and concerns in relation to the scale of the proposed expansion and the potential implications and impact, should the plan be approved, on the rural landscape and character of Hertfordshire and existing infrastructure.

My initial comments in relation to Codicote are as follows:

* The proposed 315 new houses represent a growth of 25% and question whether this growth is actually required. Stephen McPartland also makes comment about additional houses that have already been approved that seem not to be included in these figures.

* The provision of these additional properties will impact on the existing rural character and landscape of the area.

* I understand that there is no new infrastructure planned. The addition of the proposed housing will therefore have a detrimental impact on the existing traffic flow through the village, the car parking and road safety, schooling and the supply of power, water and drainage. We are already subject to repeated power cuts in this area.

At first glance it is clear:

Area CD2 will be visible from the B656 as you drive up and down the hill (on the west and northern boundaries) and will be detrimental to the existing landscape character of the rolling rural landscape along the road. New hedge/tree planting are unlikely to screen the new development due to the existing contours.

Area CD3 is more secluded but is at the base of a valley and accessed from a road that already presents severe access difficulties in bad weather due to ice and with added parking problems as residents park higher up the road so they can get out in the mornings.

Area CD5 is more secluded but is shown to have an access onto St Albans Road which is a rural lane and already very busy at peak times.

Extensive tree and shrub planting will be required (not odd trees, grass areas etc as shown on the west of Stevenage proposals in the past) if any of the these schemes are to settled into the fabric of the existing rural landscape.

However, I do not believe this will be sufficient (representing a mere sticking plaster) against what is a fundamental problem of over development of the area. This overdevelopment will impact severely on the character, landscape, infrastructure of the existing village and is completely out of scale and character and therefore should be considered as inappropriate development in the area.

I would therefore ask the Inspector to turn down the proposed NHDC local plan.