Shalom Haughurst Hill , , RG26 5JR

31 May 2020

Dear Sir,

For the attention of Mr Phillip Richards Your Ref: 20/01130/FUL 1/ 2 Cottages, Baughurst

We live on Haughurst Hill, the adjacent road to Inhurst Lane. We urge you to reject the proposed application on the following grounds:

1. We use Inhurst Lane for our regular family walks, my children use this road for cycling. Inhurst Lane currently has very little traffic, it is a quiet rural lane used by the whole community. It offers safe access to all the local footpaths, 2. It will not “respect the qualities of the local landscape and it will not be sympathetic to its character and visual quality”. It will also not “respect … the surrounding development or … neighbouring properties”. As such this is contrary to SS6 Paragraph 5. 3. The proposed development is next to an adjacent woodland area. Insufficient information has been provided to demonstrate that this adjacent woodland would be adequately protected and safeguarded against proposed development and there would be no adverse harm to biodiversity and trees. As such the proposed development is contrary to the National Planning Policy Framework (2019), policies EM1 and EM4 of the and Deane Local Plan 2011-2029, and the Landscape, Biodiversity and Trees Supplementary Planning Document (2018). 4. The application will result in a negative effect on nature conservation. The proposed area borders the Ashford Hill Nature Reserve and surrounding woodland, which is home to many very rare protected animals, bats, birds, insects. Much of the protected life from the Nature Reserve feeds, migrates and dwells in the surrounding woodland.. 5. The proposed new development would have adverse impacts on visual amenity, particularly to users of the public footpaths and the public lanes. The proposed development would therefore result in unacceptable adverse impacts on the landscape character and visual amenity of the area and as such would be contrary to the National Planning Policy Framework (2019) , Policy EM1 of the Local Plan 2011-2029. 6. The application, if granted, would create a very undesirable precedent in the area. 7. Inhurst Lane and the surrounding woodland is an area of natural beauty and should therefore not be considered as part of the additional housing project. 8. The development of 14 new houses would give Inhurst Lane and the surrounding area an urban feel and thus ruin the rural nature of the area. 9. The proposed development is outside the Policy Settlement Boundary. 10.This development would increase traffic to Stokes Lane and Inhurst Lane making it dangerous. These roads are very narrow at points allowing only 1 vehicle width. 11.During the current lockdown the local surrounding community have increasingly used Inhurst Lane, Stokes Lane and Haughurst Hill for walking, cycling, horse riding and running, It offers quiet and safe use and has been a “community asset” for such activities. As more people work from home we believe this will continue. 12.There has been a big increase in home deliveries due to the lockdown. This will continue. 14 additional houses will generate an average of 28 more car movements per day and additional home deliveries. 13.Please reject this damaging application and protect our rural area to enable continued safe use for our community,

Yours faithfully Mr Alister and Mrs Elizabeth Jackson