Local Plan 2011-2031 Proposed Submission Draft

With reference to the proposed development (ref 16/02014/1) submitted by The Crown Estate located in Hertfordshire close to the County Border near Tea Green, I should like to make the following observations based on the "soundness" criteria defined in your recent letter dated 17 October 2016. My comments equally apply to the much larger Blore Homes submission of 1500 dwellings, which abuts the Crown Estates site.


Using the tests of soundness identified in the local plan.

Positively Prepared.

Development to meet the requirements of a neighbouring authority should not be met by North Herts. It should be met by the neighbouring authority ie Luton Borough Council itself.

Justified

The proposed site is already in a congested area in terms of the volume of traffic accessing Luton from the direction of Stevenage and vice versa using the lanes adjoining the proposed development. These lanes are maintained at cost to NHDC and this development will only exacerbate the problem and associated additional costs of this increase volume of traffic. Absolutely no cost allowance, in perpetuity, has been allowed for in the proposals for this development. Although there is mention of this in your planning documents, there is no provision for the basic infrastructure needed to support this extra congestion on the plan. It is patently obvious that the vacant land in Luton, west of the M1, would mitigate much of the infrastructure required in the proposed plan as it has much easier access the existing, recently widened, M1 motorway.

Where is the provision for extra school places, retail infrastructure, medical facilities and all the other needs to support the size of this development?

Why should the council tax payers of North Herts be footing the bill for a neighbouring authority, which will continue in perpetuity?

With reference to the proposed development (ref 16/02014/1) submitted by The Crown Estate located in Hertfordshire close to the County Border near Tea Green, I should like to make the following observations based on the "soundness" criteria defined in your recent letter dated 17 October 2016. My comments equally apply to the much larger Blore Homes submission of 1500 dwellings, which abuts the Crown Estates site.


Using the tests of soundness identified in the local plan.

Positively Prepared.

Development to meet the requirements of a neighbouring authority should not be met by North Herts. It should be met by the neighbouring authority ie Luton Borough Council itself.

Justified

The proposed site is already in a congested area in terms of the volume of traffic accessing Luton from the direction of Stevenage and vice versa using the lanes adjoining the proposed development. These lanes are maintained at cost to NHDC and this development will only exacerbate the problem and associated additional costs of this increase volume of traffic. Absolutely no cost allowance, in perpetuity, has been allowed for in the proposals for this development. Although there is mention of this in your planning documents, there is no provision for the basic infrastructure needed to support this extra congestion on the plan. It is patently obvious that the vacant land in Luton, west of the M1, would mitigate much of the infrastructure required in the proposed plan as it has much easier access the existing, recently widened, M1 motorway.

Where is the provision for extra school places, retail infrastructure, medical facilities and all the other needs to support the size of this development?

Why should the council tax payers of North Herts be footing the bill for a neighbouring authority, which will continue in perpetuity?