Local Plan 2011-2031 Proposed Submission Draft

We are elected Councillors for the Wigmore Ward of Luton Borough Council and ask you to accept and acknowledge the following representations on the North Hertfordshire Proposed Submission Local Plan and in particular on the proposed inclusion of significant housing developments East of Luton.
Our central concerns are that infrastructure and transportation networks are inadequately addressed in the parts of the plan relating to Luton's Unmet Housing Need East of Luton. If implemented, the plan will lead to unacceptable problematic congestion consequences for this area, especially in the light of the airport's vast expansion planned simultaneously.
Future residents of any housing development East of Luton would look to Luton for their employment, shopping, health, education and social needs. Their only possible access to Luton town centre is via Eaton Green Road, Crawley Green Road or Hitchin Road and all of these roads are congested well beyond their safe capacity. During the morning peak period the journey time for the last half mile leading to Luton town centre is typically around 40 minutes now.
It is impossible to conceive any way in which the capacity of these three roads could be increased and so significant housing development east of Luton would inevitably produce a massive increase in already unacceptable traffic queues experienced every day.
We are aware of the response of Luton Borough Council regarding their unmet housing need and the contribution they believe North Herts can make. Their entire case rests on the need to finance a new road which could not be funded by smaller developments. Hence they are looking for a new road from the A505 to the airport and on to M1 junction 10. Yet even if this new road could be achieved it would simplify the journey from the new development to the airport and to the M1 motorway but do nothing to help families from the new homes to get into Luton town centre, to local employment areas, to medical facilities or to schools.
Ms Carolyn Cottier, in her response, says she has identified some serious inconsistencies with the National Planning Framework, since there is not yet any proven justified need for declassifying the Land East of Luton from the greenbelt due to lack of viable alternatives.
There are better alternatives and we strongly support housing development to the West of Luton which could go a considerable way to contribute to Luton's unmet need. Some of this land is within the current boundaries of Luton Borough Council and some is in Central Bedfordshire.