Local Plan 2011-2031 Proposed Submission Draft

The Blackhorse Farm site in the plan will be a new settlement, with new infrastructure required and the updating of old, requiring the destruction of natural habitat and a burden on the existing environment and structures. This does not satisfy the requirement of 'effective use' of land by re-using land that has been previously developed. The plan clearly contravenes the whole 'Sustainable Community Strategy' encouraged by the National Planning Policy Framework. The allocated site does not promote and improve the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of the area

The plan does not safeguard the vitality of Baldock Town Centre, or enhance the sense of community especially when the proposal is to build a new town Centre with shops and factories within the new development. Two separated communities will create a dearth of empty amenities in two locations, neither with a sense of community, nor will it recognize town centers as the heart of the community or support their viability and vitality.
Creating further industrial complexes simply adds to the already abandoned industrial areas around Baldock, which will only be exacerbated by the development of more empty industrial warehouses. It is difficult to see how this new settlement development will overall move the area from a net loss of biodiversity to a net gain.

The destruction and reallocation of the Green Belt land undermines current Green Belt Policy and a quick reclassification of this area does not mitigate the fact that the plan uses Green Belt land contradicting at least three of the fundamental principle of green belts - 1) prevent neighbouring towns merging, as the proposal joins settlements together into a type of Ribbon development from Hitchin to Baldock 2) Nor will it check the unrestricted sprawl of built up areas 3) it will not help preserve the special character and historic character of Baldock town centre.

In addition to the plan not supporting sustainable development it also does not support sustainable transport. The new road network, major junction's extensions to existing roads and the associated utilities and services required for the Blackhorse site burdens the local area adding un-controllable additional pressure on the spur roads and surrounding radial roads rather than reducing the need for major transport infrastructure.

Infrastructure together with transport has been rushed and not planned as it will put an increased excessive burden and cost onto infrastructure services such as sewerage, water and parking, schooling and other services such as doctors, dentists etc. Developers contributions are seen as a vehicle to resolve these issues rather than a coherent considered planning policy.

The current outline plan is a reaction from the council to the current admission that they have not had a 5 yr housing plan for a substantial amount of time. This has not been a strategically though out plan but an easy reaction to provide housing over a 20 yr period because of the availability of one large land parcel owned by the county council.

The destruction of productive agricultural land will not support principles of 'economic growth' in a rural area nor does it create jobs and prosperity by sustainable development. The site contravenes policy guidance on Green Belts, that it should be the aim of the council to keep the uses of land open in character, and green belt land is to be used in very special circumstances.
Two environmental issues not addressed - the added detrimental effect of the development on high class arable land that produces labour, produce for local markets, home to a number of species of bird under threat.

It is inappropriate to have a plan that the Planning Officer, three MP's, together with the majority of the local residents do not believe in and have a system that does not address the fundamental principles of the Localism Act and National Planning Policy Guidelines i.e. less complex and more accessible, protect the environment and promote sustainable development.
There is substantial evidence that the Council have made no referral to earlier suggestions made from 'informed bodies' such as the Campaign to Protect Rural England. Neither have they consulted major partners such as Network Rail regarding road infrastructure or other surrounding land owners about the availability of parcels of land for sustainable development.