Local Plan 2011-2031 Proposed Submission Draft

Please accept this our response to the NHDC Proposed Submission Local Plan.

We would like to raise the following objections:

Impact on Green Belt
Site Reference Number: IC1, IC2 and IC3
Grounds: Not Sound
Reasons:
* The National Planning Policy Framework states that "A local planning authority should regard the construction of new buildings as inappropriate in Green Belt". Whilst an exception to this is limited infilling under policies set out in the Local Plan, an increase of 40% to the housing stock cannot reasonably been deemed as 'limited'
* The proposal to build on Green Belt land also conflicts with the NHDC's own Strategic Objectives

Impact on traffic levels
Site Reference Number: IC1, IC2, IC3 and LS1
Grounds: Not Sound
Reasons:
* The traffic flow from Ickleford down the Bedford Road and through Hitchin (Paynes Park) in the morning rush hour is already excessive. I work in Luton and it typically takes 30 mins. to drive the 9.1 miles to work, 20 mins. of which is spent just reaching the A505/A602 junction on the South side of Hitchin
* The proposed plan will put further strain on an already overloaded road network
* Furthermore, the NHDC traffic modelling doesn't account for the increased traffic from Central Bedfordshire
* Further increases to the traffic load are likely to have a detrimental impact on the ability of local employers to recruit and retain staff from the local area and reduce their attractiveness as employers of choice

Impact on air quality
Site Reference Number: IC1, IC2, IC3 and LS1
Grounds: Not Sound
Reasons:
* Related to the above, the NHDC has a statutory duty to review air quality in its area
* The National Planning Policy Framework identified air pollution as a material planning consideration and states that "the planning system should contribute to and enhance the natural and local environment by preventing both new and existing development from contributing to or being put at unacceptable risk from, or being adversely affected by unacceptable levels of soil, air, water or noise pollution..."

Impact on the local School
Site Reference Number: IC3
Grounds: Not Sound
Reasons:
* Ickleford was designated a Conservation Area by the NHDC in October 1979. This states that it is an area of special architectural or historic interest and should be protected as such
* A school has been present on the site of the current school in Ickleford since 1839 and the proposal to relocate the School from its current prominent position in a Grade 2 listed building is in direct conflict with this designation

Impact on access to healthcare
Site Reference Number: IC1, IC2 and IC3
Grounds: Not Sound
Reasons:
* Primary healthcare provision with the Hitchin area is already overwhelmed with demand. It can typically take upwards of three weeks to secure a routine GP appointment with one of the practices in central Hitchin
* Emergency admissions at the Lister Hospital in Stevenage are similarly strained
* The National Planning Policy framework "emphasises that Local Planning Authorities should ensure that local strategies to improve health and wellbeing, and provision of health infrastructure requirements are considered in Local and Neighbourhood Plans and in planning decision-making"

Please accept this our response to the NHDC Proposed Submission Local Plan.

We would like to raise the following objections:

Impact on Green Belt
Site Reference Number: IC1, IC2 and IC3
Grounds: Not Sound
Reasons:
* The National Planning Policy Framework states that "A local planning authority should regard the construction of new buildings as inappropriate in Green Belt". Whilst an exception to this is limited infilling under policies set out in the Local Plan, an increase of 40% to the housing stock cannot reasonably been deemed as 'limited'
* The proposal to build on Green Belt land also conflicts with the NHDC's own Strategic Objectives

Impact on traffic levels
Site Reference Number: IC1, IC2, IC3 and LS1
Grounds: Not Sound
Reasons:
* The traffic flow from Ickleford down the Bedford Road and through Hitchin (Paynes Park) in the morning rush hour is already excessive. I work in Luton and it typically takes 30 mins. to drive the 9.1 miles to work, 20 mins. of which is spent just reaching the A505/A602 junction on the South side of Hitchin
* The proposed plan will put further strain on an already overloaded road network
* Furthermore, the NHDC traffic modelling doesn't account for the increased traffic from Central Bedfordshire
* Further increases to the traffic load are likely to have a detrimental impact on the ability of local employers to recruit and retain staff from the local area and reduce their attractiveness as employers of choice

Impact on air quality
Site Reference Number: IC1, IC2, IC3 and LS1
Grounds: Not Sound
Reasons:
* Related to the above, the NHDC has a statutory duty to review air quality in its area
* The National Planning Policy Framework identified air pollution as a material planning consideration and states that "the planning system should contribute to and enhance the natural and local environment by preventing both new and existing development from contributing to or being put at unacceptable risk from, or being adversely affected by unacceptable levels of soil, air, water or noise pollution..."

Impact on the local School
Site Reference Number: IC3
Grounds: Not Sound
Reasons:
* Ickleford was designated a Conservation Area by the NHDC in October 1979. This states that it is an area of special architectural or historic interest and should be protected as such
* A school has been present on the site of the current school in Ickleford since 1839 and the proposal to relocate the School from its current prominent position in a Grade 2 listed building is in direct conflict with this designation

Impact on access to healthcare
Site Reference Number: IC1, IC2 and IC3
Grounds: Not Sound
Reasons:
* Primary healthcare provision with the Hitchin area is already overwhelmed with demand. It can typically take upwards of three weeks to secure a routine GP appointment with one of the practices in central Hitchin
* Emergency admissions at the Lister Hospital in Stevenage are similarly strained
* The National Planning Policy framework "emphasises that Local Planning Authorities should ensure that local strategies to improve health and wellbeing, and provision of health infrastructure requirements are considered in Local and Neighbourhood Plans and in planning decision-making"

Please accept this our response to the NHDC Proposed Submission Local Plan.

We would like to raise the following objections:

Impact on Green Belt
Site Reference Number: IC1, IC2 and IC3
Grounds: Not Sound
Reasons:
* The National Planning Policy Framework states that "A local planning authority should regard the construction of new buildings as inappropriate in Green Belt". Whilst an exception to this is limited infilling under policies set out in the Local Plan, an increase of 40% to the housing stock cannot reasonably been deemed as 'limited'
* The proposal to build on Green Belt land also conflicts with the NHDC's own Strategic Objectives

Impact on traffic levels
Site Reference Number: IC1, IC2, IC3 and LS1
Grounds: Not Sound
Reasons:
* The traffic flow from Ickleford down the Bedford Road and through Hitchin (Paynes Park) in the morning rush hour is already excessive. I work in Luton and it typically takes 30 mins. to drive the 9.1 miles to work, 20 mins. of which is spent just reaching the A505/A602 junction on the South side of Hitchin
* The proposed plan will put further strain on an already overloaded road network
* Furthermore, the NHDC traffic modelling doesn't account for the increased traffic from Central Bedfordshire
* Further increases to the traffic load are likely to have a detrimental impact on the ability of local employers to recruit and retain staff from the local area and reduce their attractiveness as employers of choice

Impact on air quality
Site Reference Number: IC1, IC2, IC3 and LS1
Grounds: Not Sound
Reasons:
* Related to the above, the NHDC has a statutory duty to review air quality in its area
* The National Planning Policy Framework identified air pollution as a material planning consideration and states that "the planning system should contribute to and enhance the natural and local environment by preventing both new and existing development from contributing to or being put at unacceptable risk from, or being adversely affected by unacceptable levels of soil, air, water or noise pollution..."

Impact on the local School
Site Reference Number: IC3
Grounds: Not Sound
Reasons:
* Ickleford was designated a Conservation Area by the NHDC in October 1979. This states that it is an area of special architectural or historic interest and should be protected as such
* A school has been present on the site of the current school in Ickleford since 1839 and the proposal to relocate the School from its current prominent position in a Grade 2 listed building is in direct conflict with this designation

Impact on access to healthcare
Site Reference Number: IC1, IC2 and IC3
Grounds: Not Sound
Reasons:
* Primary healthcare provision with the Hitchin area is already overwhelmed with demand. It can typically take upwards of three weeks to secure a routine GP appointment with one of the practices in central Hitchin
* Emergency admissions at the Lister Hospital in Stevenage are similarly strained
* The National Planning Policy framework "emphasises that Local Planning Authorities should ensure that local strategies to improve health and wellbeing, and provision of health infrastructure requirements are considered in Local and Neighbourhood Plans and in planning decision-making"

Please accept this our response to the NHDC Proposed Submission Local Plan.

We would like to raise the following objections:

Impact on Green Belt
Site Reference Number: IC1, IC2 and IC3
Grounds: Not Sound
Reasons:
* The National Planning Policy Framework states that "A local planning authority should regard the construction of new buildings as inappropriate in Green Belt". Whilst an exception to this is limited infilling under policies set out in the Local Plan, an increase of 40% to the housing stock cannot reasonably been deemed as 'limited'
* The proposal to build on Green Belt land also conflicts with the NHDC's own Strategic Objectives

Impact on traffic levels
Site Reference Number: IC1, IC2, IC3 and LS1
Grounds: Not Sound
Reasons:
* The traffic flow from Ickleford down the Bedford Road and through Hitchin (Paynes Park) in the morning rush hour is already excessive. I work in Luton and it typically takes 30 mins. to drive the 9.1 miles to work, 20 mins. of which is spent just reaching the A505/A602 junction on the South side of Hitchin
* The proposed plan will put further strain on an already overloaded road network
* Furthermore, the NHDC traffic modelling doesn't account for the increased traffic from Central Bedfordshire
* Further increases to the traffic load are likely to have a detrimental impact on the ability of local employers to recruit and retain staff from the local area and reduce their attractiveness as employers of choice

Impact on air quality
Site Reference Number: IC1, IC2, IC3 and LS1
Grounds: Not Sound
Reasons:
* Related to the above, the NHDC has a statutory duty to review air quality in its area
* The National Planning Policy Framework identified air pollution as a material planning consideration and states that "the planning system should contribute to and enhance the natural and local environment by preventing both new and existing development from contributing to or being put at unacceptable risk from, or being adversely affected by unacceptable levels of soil, air, water or noise pollution..."

Impact on the local School
Site Reference Number: IC3
Grounds: Not Sound
Reasons:
* Ickleford was designated a Conservation Area by the NHDC in October 1979. This states that it is an area of special architectural or historic interest and should be protected as such
* A school has been present on the site of the current school in Ickleford since 1839 and the proposal to relocate the School from its current prominent position in a Grade 2 listed building is in direct conflict with this designation

Impact on access to healthcare
Site Reference Number: IC1, IC2 and IC3
Grounds: Not Sound
Reasons:
* Primary healthcare provision with the Hitchin area is already overwhelmed with demand. It can typically take upwards of three weeks to secure a routine GP appointment with one of the practices in central Hitchin
* Emergency admissions at the Lister Hospital in Stevenage are similarly strained
* The National Planning Policy framework "emphasises that Local Planning Authorities should ensure that local strategies to improve health and wellbeing, and provision of health infrastructure requirements are considered in Local and Neighbourhood Plans and in planning decision-making"