As a resident of Loxwood Parish, I have been made aware of the proposal to allocate a further 125 houses in Loxwood within the existing Neighbourhood Plan.
I do have genuine concerns about this proposal and would like the council to consider the following.
My understanding is that the National Planning Policy Framework (part 2) requires Local Plans to deliver sustainable development and if this cannot be proven then the plan will not be considered to be sound.
I am concerned that the criteria drawn up by the council to ascertain sustainability cannot be met by the proposal to allocate 125 more houses to Loxwood in the period 2019 to 2035.
I have been made aware that Southern Water has confirmed the current sewerage system in Loxwood has no more capacity and yet they do not have any plans to update any infrastructure in their 2010 to 2015 spending plans. This means the new development on the Old Nursery, being constructed right now, has had to have holding tanks installed to cope with everyday sewerage. Surely this, alone, is not a sustainable way forward in terms of cost and the effect on the environment.
In addition, I am aware that parts of the village are already prone to both fluvial and surface water flooding.
There is no viable public transport available in the village, there are virtually no employment opportunities and the village primary school is close to full capacity so any new housing will force all residents to commute to work, travel to school and make everyday journeys by road, in private cars.
Local estate agents will confirm that most houses that are sold in the parish are bought by people from outside the area and not people moving within the village.
These points, in my view, prove that Loxwood does not meet the council's own test of sustainability and therefore the Local Plan cannot be considered to be sound.
Finally, I have been made aware that the number of houses proposed has been driven by developers proposing sites that are being promoted by local land owners and yet no consultations have taken place at parish council level and no effort has been made to share the burden of housing across the neighbouring parishes. I believe this is contrary to national planning guidance that Chichester District Council is bound to follow when drafting a Local Plan, and which requires all district councils to carry out studies of potential housing sites and then consult with the parish council and residents.
I therefore object to the proposal to allocate any further housing to Loxwood within the period 2019 to 2035.