Further Proposed Modifications to the North Hertfordshire Local Plan 2011- 2031

I am writing to object to the North Herts District Council Local Plan’s proposed development of 2,100 homes, named East of Luton.

As you are probably aware, the way you have calculated the unmet need for Luton’s homes from Evidence Document ED224 is completely out of date and therefore totally inaccurate.

The reasons they are wrong are;

- Because of significantly increased grants of planning permissions and public announcements, Luton will be building around 14,700 houses through to 2031, compared to 8,500 stated in the LBC Local Plan.
- An updated analysis of Luton’s housing needs, carried out by Opinion Research Services in August 2020 at the request of the NHDC Inspector, showed that the previous housing requirement of 17,800 through to 2031 would be reduced to 16,700.
- These two facts mean the unmet housing need for Luton drops to around 2,000 compared to 9,300 in the Luton Local Plan.
- The Luton Inspector, when giving the go ahead for the Luton Local Plan in 2017, stated the ‘best fit’ for any unmet housing need was Central Bedfordshire which has committed to provide 7,350 dwellings. It has allocated 20 sites with capacity for at least 8,850 dwellings. Hundreds of those houses are already under construction.
- Had Luton carried out it’s Review on time, these figures would have already come to light, meaning the NHDC does not have to allow EOL.
- EOL will be building on the valuable green belt land of North Herts, with no exceptional circumstances.
- Lastly, there is no evidence that NHDC officials and Councillors have carried out any due diligence on Luton’s housing figures, which is obviously not good enough.

I know that NHDC is aware of all these facts, but you still continue to press ahead with something that the people of North Herts do not want.
It seems to me that North Herts District Councillors have forgotten the reason for their job, to make decisions and run a council on behalf of the residents of North Herts and building on North Herts green belt is not in the best interests of your residents and was not what we have just voted for.

I will conclude by, again, stating my unreserved objection to the East of Luton expansion and of NHDC allowing building on our green belt.