Local Plan 2011-2031 Proposed Submission Draft

It is not legally compliant as the KB4 site has only recently been included so I have had insufficient time to consider it along with a lack of involvement. In addition there is no evidence of a Knebworth Strategic Plan given there are nearly 600 homes planned. Any development over 500 homes should come with a clear infrastructure plan and this is currently lacking. So it appears that NHDC is avoiding it's own criteria.
It is not sound for a number of reasons - Swangleys Lane is not wide enough, cannot cope with existing traffic let alone a significant increase and poses a danger given it's bends etc. KB4 is planned on Grade 3 land currently in agricultural use so it is not the poorest quality land available. The use of Green Belt land runs contrary to National Planning Policy and represents encroachment of our countryside unnecessarily. The infrastructure within the village is struggling to cope with existing housing stock with bottlenecks in roads and a congested high street. The addition of homes at the KB4 site will only make this situation worse. I understand that the B197 is recommended as a diversion if the A1 is closed which when it is causes significant congestion. Houses at the KB4 site will create additional congestion particularly at the school and end of Swangleys Lane.
The KB4 site is 'raised land' and will be seen from the other side of the village creating an increased sprawl of housing and a detrimental impact on the general skyline. In additional I have real concerns over the capacity of existing drains to cope with the additional run off due to hard landscaping and houses.

The choice of site at KB4 is a poor one for the reasons I have given and needs to be stopped with a review of more suitable sites. The local infrastructure will not be able to cope and I can see nothing in the local plan that addresses this issue

It is not legally compliant as the KB4 site has only recently been included so I have had insufficient time to consider it along with a lack of involvement. In addition there is no evidence of a Knebworth Strategic Plan given there are nearly 600 homes planned. Any development over 500 homes should come with a clear infrastructure plan and this is currently lacking. So it appears that NHDC is avoiding it's own criteria.
It is not sound for a number of reasons - Swangleys Lane is not wide enough, cannot cope with existing traffic let alone a significant increase and poses a danger given it's bends etc. KB4 is planned on Grade 3 land currently in agricultural use so it is not the poorest quality land available. The use of Green Belt land runs contrary to National Planning Policy and represents encroachment of our countryside unnecessarily. The infrastructure within the village is struggling to cope with existing housing stock with bottlenecks in roads and a congested high street. The addition of homes at the KB4 site will only make this situation worse. I understand that the B197 is recommended as a diversion if the A1 is closed which when it is causes significant congestion. Houses at the KB4 site will create additional congestion particularly at the school and end of Swangleys Lane.
The KB4 site is 'raised land' and will be seen from the other side of the village creating an increased sprawl of housing and a detrimental impact on the general skyline. In additional I have real concerns over the capacity of existing drains to cope with the additional run off due to hard landscaping and houses.

The choice of site at KB4 is a poor one for the reasons I have given and needs to be stopped with a review of more suitable sites. The local infrastructure will not be able to cope and I can see nothing in the local plan that addresses this issue

A formal and properly researched infrastructure plan for the village with investment in the roads, car parking and station facilities
Housing Development to be focused on existing brownfield sites 1st to minimise the use of Green Belt and/or good quality agricultural land
Traffic calming scheme for Swangleys Lane and a major review of possible access routes to the proposed KB4 site.