I am writing to strongly object to the allocation of an additional 125 houses to Loxwood as part of your review of the CDC Local Plan, Policy S5, currently issued for consultation.
Loxwood was tasked to accommodate 60 houses under the current CDC Local Plan. Whilst recognising that Government is demanding a higher level of house construction across the country, I believe that the additional number of 125 houses allocated to Loxwood is disproportionate and unfair given the previous methodology of allocation. Neighbouring villages in the North of Plan area have either been allocated zero additional houses or, for Wisborough Green, only 25. We were not consulted on this allocation or the process for determining these numbers. The 3 so called Service Villages in the North of Plan area are of similar size and have similar facilities. Why then has Loxwood been singled out to accommodate 5 times as many houses than Wisborough Green?
It seems to me that this is purely based on the sites put forward by developers and not for any other proper planning reason.
Under national legislation, the NPPF states that any development should be sustainable and your own Local Plan document details how this is interpreted. Loxwood is classified as a rural community and does not have a demand for housing as a result of employment need as there is little employment in the area and little chance of that situation changing. Also there are no sustainable transport links which would assist residents in getting to their places of work which by necessity are outside the parish and even further afield. The nearest main employment concentrations are Guildford and Horsham with many local resident commuting to London from these two locations. There is no useable bus service and everyone needs to use private cars.
Another aspect of sustainability stated in the Local Plan document is the need for a sustainable sewage infrastructure. Loxwood has a fragile and an already at capacity sewage system - a fact recognised by Southern Water. The recent Nursery Site development by Antler Homes in the village was required to provide a significant improvement to the existing system before connection would be allowed. They failed to do this and are the subject of an enforcement order from CDC planning. Their solution of two attenuation tanks is meant to be temporary. However Southern Water cannot guarantee any infrastructure upgrade for the foreseeable future. This situation is unsustainable now, let alone for the proposed 125 additional houses.
To propose these additional housing numbers is not only inequitable and unfair, but also unsustainable by your own definitions. I would therefore urge CDC to reconsider their housing allocations in a more compliant and appropriate manner seeking more housing from neighbouring villages and reducing significantly the number's required in Loxwood. In addition they should address the issue of a sustainable infrastructure with Southern Water and not require any further development in the Loxwood area until such time as an upgraded waste water disposal system is in place.