Local Plan 2011-2031 Proposed Submission Draft

I wish to object to North Herts District Councils housing development plan.

I specifically wish to draw attention to the inclusion of SP2 in the plan for the following reasons.
The plan provides too much housing for a village of the size of Whitwell. The village has increased significantly over the last 10 years with 3 major housing developments. The amount of housing proposed will adversely affect the village to the detriment of the surrounding countryside much loved by villagers, cyclists and walkers alike. The village provides an easy access rural environment for the local towns this will be further eroded if this plan is endorsed.
Of all the surrounding countryside of Whitwell the site of Sp2 seems the worse to pick for housing development. It is visually striking from a number of view points across the hills and up the Valley. it is situate opposite the primary school where additional traffic will cause a problem. The primary school is full and there are no secondary schools within 5 miles. It is hard to see how additional houses are going to help the Village. It has a poor public transport system; narrow roads many without pavements; no shopping or entertainment facilities. The village is likely to turn from rural retreat to suburb as Luton creeps ever closer.
It was disconcerting to see the site added to the plan especially as the housing requirement had gone down and North Herts District council planning committee had already agreed that this was an unsuitable site by turning down a planning application for the site. It seems the fact that the site was outside the village boundary was overcome by just redrawing the boundary. Both the inclusion of the site and redrawing of the boundary was done without any consultation with the village. The council is obliged to consult and for the inclusion of this site into the development plan they have not done so.
The site is known locally to occasionally flood in times of high rainfall and whilst the few houses at risk have taken precautions building on the site is likely to make the flood situation worse. 45 houses will be at risk rather than the present 3 or 4. It is also strange to recommend a site that is known to flood and houses should only be built in such areas under extraordinary cases. We are not in that position here there must be many sites in North Herts not susceptible to flooding.
The village is not against some natural expansion in the right areas but housing of this size rushed into the plan on an inappropriate site does not seem the correct way to go. I therefore object to the plan due to inclusion of the SP2 site in it.

I wish to object to North Herts District Councils housing development plan.

I specifically wish to draw attention to the inclusion of SP2 in the plan for the following reasons.
The plan provides too much housing for a village of the size of Whitwell. The village has increased significantly over the last 10 years with 3 major housing developments. The amount of housing proposed will adversely affect the village to the detriment of the surrounding countryside much loved by villagers, cyclists and walkers alike. The village provides an easy access rural environment for the local towns this will be further eroded if this plan is endorsed.
Of all the surrounding countryside of Whitwell the site of Sp2 seems the worse to pick for housing development. It is visually striking from a number of view points across the hills and up the Valley. it is situate opposite the primary school where additional traffic will cause a problem. The primary school is full and there are no secondary schools within 5 miles. It is hard to see how additional houses are going to help the Village. It has a poor public transport system; narrow roads many without pavements; no shopping or entertainment facilities. The village is likely to turn from rural retreat to suburb as Luton creeps ever closer.
It was disconcerting to see the site added to the plan especially as the housing requirement had gone down and North Herts District council planning committee had already agreed that this was an unsuitable site by turning down a planning application for the site. It seems the fact that the site was outside the village boundary was overcome by just redrawing the boundary. Both the inclusion of the site and redrawing of the boundary was done without any consultation with the village. The council is obliged to consult and for the inclusion of this site into the development plan they have not done so.
The site is known locally to occasionally flood in times of high rainfall and whilst the few houses at risk have taken precautions building on the site is likely to make the flood situation worse. 45 houses will be at risk rather than the present 3 or 4. It is also strange to recommend a site that is known to flood and houses should only be built in such areas under extraordinary cases. We are not in that position here there must be many sites in North Herts not susceptible to flooding.
The village is not against some natural expansion in the right areas but housing of this size rushed into the plan on an inappropriate site does not seem the correct way to go. I therefore object to the plan due to inclusion of the SP2 site in it.