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ID sylw: 108423

Derbyniwyd: 27/02/2025

Ymatebydd: Edward Hargreaves

I attended a consultation event in Ashorne and was astonished by proposals for 12 large-scale housing developments. I disagree with this approach, which will have long-term impacts on communities, infrastructure and countryside. Big developers and consultants are driving the Plan. I support a dispersed housing strategy as an alternative to this approach.

This would better protect the character of rural areas, reduce infrastructure overload, result in fairer distribution of economic benefits, enhance community integration, and make growth more sustainable and flexible. This would be achieved by identifying suitable small and medium sized sites across the county, utilising brownfield and infill sites first. Developers would be required to contribute directly to infrastructure through CIL and S106 agreements. Planning policies would encourage developments of 10-50 homes rather than concentrated 500+ home estates, and support self-build and community-led housing. Grants or planning incentives could be offered for local builders and developers. This would be accompanied by eco-friendly building standards. Natural landscapes would be protected by spreading development and integrating green corridors and wildlife protection measures.

Conversely, large scale developments in one area cause infrastructure overloads due to delays in providing upgrades and developers arguing viability to try to avoid providing funding. Large estates destroy large swathes of countryside and wildlife habitats. They often lack character and a community feel, becoming isolated commuter zones that do not integrate with existing towns and villages. They are developer-led and this means they prioritise profit and maximising housing numbers over sustainability and community needs and concerns. Transport networks are often overwhelmed without properly-phased development. This increases traffic and travel times and reduces air quality.