8,000 new homes on Hitchin's green belt?
Hitchin Councillors learned earlier this week that the Government has been asked to allow at least 8,000 new homes to be built to the south and west of the town.
The developers are proposing to build a southern bypass top relieve traffic congestion into Hitchin in return for receiving permission.
The District Council’s cabinet for North Hertfordshire heard the proposal on Tuesday, which has now been put to the Examination in Public into the East of England Plan currently taking place in Letchworth GC.
Having ordered the officers to resist it at the initial hearing, councillors were opposed to the new homes proposal.
"Development on this scale would fundamentally change the character of the historic market town of Hitchin," said Cllr Richard Thake.
F John Smith, Leader of the council, said: "This proposal is grossly invasive of our Green Belt, and the area around Hitchin is especially valuable. Hitchin would increase in size by over half, and that's far too much."
The proposal to build 8,000 new homes on the green belt around Hitchin comes as many new homes intend to be built on the Stevenage green belt and just after the Planning Council of nearby Hertfordshire city Saint Albans announced,
"There will probably be insufficient brownfield redevelopment sites available in the future to meet the 2001-2021 targets. Green Belt sites will therefore need to be identified."
"Last September, the Council approved a consultation document on the Local Plan Second Review, which proposed nearly 1,300 dwellings on Green Belt sites."
Date: Saturday 21st January, 2006
