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

I object to the development. It is proposed to meet Luton's unmet housing needs. Luton's Local Plan of 2017 is currently being reviewed (Ref Policy LLP40) and Luton's housing needs will only be known on completion of the review. The EOL development is therefore based on outdated information, and should consider the following;
1. As a result of 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 Local Plan adopted in 2017
2. 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 requirements of 17,800 through to 2031 is now reduced 16,700
3. The outcome of this is that the unmet housing need for Luton drops to around 2,000 (16,700-14,700), compared to 9,300 (17,800-8,500) in the Luton Local Plan
4. The Luton Inspector, when giving approval for the Luton Local Plan in 2017, stated the 'best fit' for any unmet housing need was Central Beds which has committed to provide 7,300 dwellings. In fact, it has allocated 20 sites with capacity for at least 8,500 dwellings from which to satisfy that commitment. Hundreds of these houses are already built or are under construction
5. These figures will come out in the Review meaning that NHDC does not need to allow development at EOL
6. The above is known to NHDC and yet it signed a Statement of Common Ground in December 2020 (ED224) with Luton, Bloor Homes and the Crown Estate based on outdated information to continue justifying its EOL plans. Central Beds, the most important neighbouring local authority to Luton, was not party to this statement
The lack of consideration given to the above facts by NHDC officials and Councillors suggests they have not applied due diligence in assessing Luton's current housing figures.