Local Plan 2011-2031 Proposed Submission Draft

I wish to object to the inclusion of Site LS1 : Land at Bedford Road in the Parish of Ickleford. I live in the Parish of Stondon, Bedfordshire, and the principle reasons for my objection are as follows:-

1. Duty to Cooperate

North Hertfordshire District Council (NHDC) has failed to comply with its duty to co-operate with Stondon Parish Council (SPC), as set out under s20(5)(c) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended) (PCPA), with regard to the allocation of LS1 in the NHLP 2011-2031. The PCPA establishes that non-compliance with the duty to cooperate cannot be rectified after the submission of the plan therefore calling into question the soundness of the plan.

2. Land at Bedford Road

The site is adjacent to Lower Stondon, in a rural area in the most north eastern part of North Hertfordshire District. The local plan does not reference that the entire northern boarder of the site backs on to the Parish of Henlow, only that of Lower Stondon, which is factually incorrect.

3. Classification of the Land

The Natural England Agricultural Classification shows the site as Grade 1 quality. Para 112 of the NPPF states that "local authorities should seek to use areas of poorer quality land in preference to that of higher quality". Surely other sites of lower quality are available in the North Herts District?

4. Flooding

The land is prone to show areas of standing water during periods of heavy rain. The development will breach the current defendable Eastern boundary of the developed environment of Lower Stondon, and the southern boundary of Henlow Camp.

5. Infrastructure.

The site does not support sustainable local development. There is little local employment, but given recent residential building developments in the area (without a commensurate increase transport links) the infrastructure is congested. Local shops only provide limited facilities, which will encourage private vehicle use to larger centres such as Hitchin and Letchworth. In the submission there is no assessment of the impact the development would have on local Doctors Surgeries. The nearest Surgeries to the site are either Stondon or Shefford, which are already at virtual capacity with no room to expand. The same situation exists with schools, particularly Stondon and Derwent lower schools are at virtual capacity. In any event, S106 monies raised through this site would go to North Herts and would not go to the Bedfordshire facilities which the site comments in the local plan suggest new residents would want to use.

This site should be withdrawn for the Local Plan.