Proposed Main Modifications

The following comments on the proposed submission North Hertfordshire District Council's Local Plan 2011 - 2031 as modified in November 2018 are in addition to the comments already made concerning the specific application for 167 dwellings on Land to the South of Heath Lane, Codicote
(18/02722/FP) (CD5 in Local Plan), those comments being appended at the end of this document.

Referring primarily to the new paragraph 4.xx between 4.12 and 4.13:
This states that five villages, Knebworth, Codicote, Ickleford, Little Wymondley and Barkway, have been identified as villages that can support higher levels of growth. Firstly, in respect of the first two villages the grounds cited for this are that they are: 'the two largest villages within North Hertfordshire and support a range of services, including a station at Knebworth'; that must mean that they are the villages most at risk of losing their character as villages and becoming small towns. Secondly, in respect of all five villages, paragraph 4.9 states that they will contribute about 11% to the total requirement of just under 16,000 new homes. But should it really be necessary to alter the character of these villages and intrude on the green belt around them when as paragraph 4.104 states: 'Land to the west of the A1(M) at Stevenage within North Hertfordshire has long been identified as a sustainable location for a substantial urban extension to the town. Given the history of this site, it is considered there is sufficient justification to remove this site from the Green Belt now and safeguard it for future use.' That paragraph goes on to state: 'This land is not allocated for development at the present time. No development will be permitted until a plan review determines that the site is required to meet long-term needs and remains (part of) the most appropriate solution.' Surely if that land is known to be a sustainable for a substantial development it would be preferable on any rational view to bring forward development there rather than in five villages which would provide fewer homes between them in any case.

Referring to paragraph 4.35:
This states in part: 'There are quite sizeable employment sites in villages such as Ashwell, Codicote, Kimpton, Little Wymondley and Weston which provide rural jobs and should be retained.' In the case of Codicote (and for all I know the others) the description 'sizeable' might be considered to be an exaggeration; what is certain is that the existing employment opportunities there would be miniscule in comparison to the number of new inhabitants that would be accommodated in the proposed housing development. Those new inhabitants seeking employment would perforce have to travel elsewhere to work. There is already a traffic problem on the roads, bus services are inadequate, there is no railway station at Codicote and the car parks at the two nearest stations (Welwyn North and Knebworth) are already too small to meet demand on weekdays.

The following comments on the proposed submission North Hertfordshire District Council's Local Plan 2011 - 2031 as modified in November 2018 are in addition to the comments already made concerning the specific application for 167 dwellings on Land to the South of Heath Lane, Codicote
(18/02722/FP) (CD5 in Local Plan), those comments being appended at the end of this document.

Referring primarily to the new paragraph 4.xx between 4.12 and 4.13:
This states that five villages, Knebworth, Codicote, Ickleford, Little Wymondley and Barkway, have been identified as villages that can support higher levels of growth. Firstly, in respect of the first two villages the grounds cited for this are that they are: 'the two largest villages within North Hertfordshire and support a range of services, including a station at Knebworth'; that must mean that they are the villages most at risk of losing their character as villages and becoming small towns. Secondly, in respect of all five villages, paragraph 4.9 states that they will contribute about 11% to the total requirement of just under 16,000 new homes. But should it really be necessary to alter the character of these villages and intrude on the green belt around them when as paragraph 4.104 states: 'Land to the west of the A1(M) at Stevenage within North Hertfordshire has long been identified as a sustainable location for a substantial urban extension to the town. Given the history of this site, it is considered there is sufficient justification to remove this site from the Green Belt now and safeguard it for future use.' That paragraph goes on to state: 'This land is not allocated for development at the present time. No development will be permitted until a plan review determines that the site is required to meet long-term needs and remains (part of) the most appropriate solution.' Surely if that land is known to be a sustainable for a substantial development it would be preferable on any rational view to bring forward development there rather than in five villages which would provide fewer homes between them in any case.

Referring to paragraph 4.35:
This states in part: 'There are quite sizeable employment sites in villages such as Ashwell, Codicote, Kimpton, Little Wymondley and Weston which provide rural jobs and should be retained.' In the case of Codicote (and for all I know the others) the description 'sizeable' might be considered to be an exaggeration; what is certain is that the existing employment opportunities there would be miniscule in comparison to the number of new inhabitants that would be accommodated in the proposed housing development. Those new inhabitants seeking employment would perforce have to travel elsewhere to work. There is already a traffic problem on the roads, bus services are inadequate, there is no railway station at Codicote and the car parks at the two nearest stations (Welwyn North and Knebworth) are already too small to meet demand on weekdays.