Object

Representation ID: 10412

Received: 24/07/2022

Respondent: Mr Michael Lennox

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? Not specified

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

Policy EMP6/Local Plan 2040
I would like to lodge a very strong objection to the proposed development allocation on Land at Water End and St. Neats Road covering 30 hectares in total.
The need for a Science Park in a beautiful rural setting has to be seriously questioned. Even more disastrous for the village would be warehousing and distribution centres, also included in the application and the more likely result. Moreover, once the principle of development on the site has been approved, there is a risk that the site could be re-allocated for alternative uses - it would seem this would be a more likely outcome than a prestigious Science Park, and would be hugely to the detriment of our attractive rural village. Such applications should be confined to established business park areas and brownfield sites - why destroy beautiful Grade 2 agricultural land and wildlife habitat?
The village of Renhold has a distinctive character, with its five historic Ends, and no street lighting, sparsely populated and rural. Any development on the allocated sites, elevated from the surrounding landscape, would clearly destroy the rural setting and be totally out of keeping. It would destroy the attraction and the ambiance of the village and would dominate the entry to the village from the A421 approach. The elevation and location of the proposed development are entirely inappropriate.
I trust that members of the Planning Policy Team will take note that there is huge opposition to this development by village residents. We see no benefit for the village whatsoever - on the contrary, we see it destroying the idyllic rural setting we enjoy at present.