Local Plan 2011-2031 Proposed Submission Draft

We have very strong objections to this proposed development over four main issues
* Deterioration of a village environment
* Unnecessary detrimental use of Green Belt land
* Further overloading of an already overstretched environment
* Detrimental effect on a Conservation area
Deterioration of a village environment
Intentionally, people decide to settle in a village, town, or city to meet their own personal preference; fully aware of the benefits and limitations of each.
It is totally wrong to overdevelop a village which would then require additional facilities to suit and effectively evolve to become a town and against the reason most residents settled or would want to live there.
The need for increased housing should be achieved in areas around main towns and cities who have the necessary infrastructure and facilities already in place to accommodate.
It is also understood that the full requirements could have been addressed by the development
a) Of a new garden city; achieving the required results in a more carefully thought through and suitable approach, and/or
b) On ground to the west of Stevenage and the A1(M) allowing much easier access and development alongside a major town already constructed to meet volume residential and roadways.
Unnecessary detrimental use of Green Belt land
It is important that those given and holding the responsibility of protecting the environment take that responsibility seriously. The Green Belt was a facility introduced to help with that control; ignoring it will cause irreversible environmental damage.
Further overloading of an already overstretched environment
The road infrastructure around Knebworth is already struggling to cope with current traffic levels, and it is understood similarly are the services.
It would appear untenable to outlet traffic from more homes onto side streets already dangerous and overloaded.
Further, links between the west and east sides of the village are through two tunnels beneath railway bridges and a further bridge, all of which are narrow and difficult to manoeuvre for vehicles, and have very poor, narrow, and dangerous paving for pedestrians; particularly children.
This development and that of other proposed Knebworth developments resulting in a 33% increase in population would seriously aggravate the situation even further.
Further, the problem of excessive cars using Deards End Lane as a cut through and already causing damage to its conservation environment would bring even more harm.
Proposed development on these lands was already rejected a few years ago as being unsuitable, and yet amazingly is being considered again.
Detrimental effect on a Conservation area
Any development on this green belt land would also have a seriously detrimental effect on the adjacent Deards End Lane conservation area for which North Herts is responsible for protecting, and goes against many of North Herts own publicity of its importance.
From North Herts own conservation documents, Deards End Lane Conservation Area comprises Deards End Lane and a short section of Park Lane which has a rural setting to the west of open fields, historic routes connecting Knebworth to the settlement of Old Knebworth - the green belt land in question.

The conservation area includes three early 20th century buildings by Lutyens on the lane; a granary, barns and farmhouse all grade II listed and dating from the 15th century or earlier. All other subsequent building have been carefully controlled to be in keeping with the conservation area.
Many other buildings are classified by North Herts as 'positive' buildings; considered to make a positive contribution to the character and appearance of the conservation area.
Any buildings on this adjacent land would be in view of, but not be in keeping with the carefully controlled buildings of the conservation area.
Residents of the Deards End Lane conservation area, particularly those in listed buildings rightly have to adhere to strict regulations aimed to protect the area, which in the past has in part been policed by North Herts Council.
This now doesn't appear to be the case with residents the only one's appearing to be trying protect the conservation area.
We would therefore ask North Herts to honour its responsibility of protecting one of its conservation areas, of unsuitable development to the environment, and therefore refusing the development on this adjoining land.