North East Herts MP Oliver Heald has heard that the controversial planning application for the Roundwood site near Great Ashby has now been received at North Herts Council. He is letting campaigners know so that they can be ready to submit their objections.
Croudace are one of the developers on the adjoining site, Great Ashby/Burleigh Park and NHDC received the application yesterday, 18 Mar 2010. It seeks to outline planning permission for between 350 and 360 dwellings and associated development, including full details for Phase 1 comprising of 67 dwellings.
The Government has set a huge housing target for Stevenage as set out in the East of England Plan and identified North Stevenage as one of the most likely areas to be allocated. It does lie within the Green Belt, and so ""very special circumstances"" would have to be put forward by Croudace to justify the grant of permission. Croudace were clearly preparing to submit an application sooner rather then later, and as part of the build-up to that submission, the company held the exhibition in Great Ashby which led to the concern by local residents.
Commenting Oliver said: ""I have received dozens of letters and e-mails from concerned local residents against the Roundwood plan. I am therefore letting everyone know that the application is now in and objectors will want to view the plans and prepare their objections. The Green Belt is designed to protect our area from overdevelopment, but developers seem to treat this as a minor inconvenience.""
ENDS