Site Allocations Plan Consultation City Council The leonardo Building 2 Rossington Street Leeds ts2 8HD

Chanpes to site MX2-39 Parlinston

Dear Sir, I strongly object to the proposal of building thousands of new homes in Parlington. I am a member of a walking group and until recently I was unaware of the proposed development. Our walking group visits the area of Parlington and the surrounding villages. I understand that Parlington has been included into Leeds Site Allocation Plan after another proposed development at Headley Hall of 5,000 homes was withdrawn.

I am opposed to Parlington being taken out of the green belt. The changes made and the reduction in number to 1850 houses being built on this historic estate will bring a significant and detrimental impact on the rural character of the area. This number is almost the same as the villages of and Barwick-in-Elmet combined. This is a significant change from the original proposal of a self-sustaining community. The changes to the number of houses would make the new settlement unsustainable as it would not provide the required infrastructure.

Parlington is a planned historic landscape that has remained unchanged for hundreds of years. lt has many areas of historic significance includíng the Grade Ll Triumphal Arch and Aberford Fly Line railway. It has ancient woodland ,a former Deer Park, high grade agricultural land, sites of ecological and geological interest, is in the Southern Magnesium Limestone landscape and is even identified in Leeds City Councils own Core Strategy as a site of strategic green infrastructure.

The Parlington Estate has a network of footpaths, bridleways and cycle ways including the National Cycle route 66. lt is used for free leisure activities by local residents and many people like myself from across North and West Yorkshire, and further afield, The ability to walk the footpaths in areas such as Parlington is a community asset which can be fully enjoyed by people of all ages. Parlington is a key component of the Leeds Green Belt. One of the key purposes of the green belt is ensuring the city and its satellite communities do not merge.

Although the changes have reduced the number of homes within this SAP it is clear that the planners intend the 5000 homes to be built within the next allocation. That would be a town the size of Tadcasterl The changes have moved the initial development to within 500 meters of the historic town of Barwick in Elmet and 600 meters from the conservation area of Aberford. This may be because of Heritage England's concerns regarding the building over the former Deer Park but it would appear that the access road goes across the Deer Park which would not protect it. This valuable land fulfills all of the critería and purposes of green belt and I feel that there are no exceptional circumstances to remove it.

I I am also concerned about flood risk from the development. lt appears that water from the site will be deviated into the Crow River which then joins Cock Beck near to the bridge in Aberford. This area of Aberford floods regularly already. The Cock Beck goes onto the river Wharf close to Tadcaster. This town also floods regularly and most recently and catastrophically in December 20tS resulting in the collapse of the historic bridge cutting the town in two. The bridge was only reinstated recently.

Much of the housing planned in Outer North East and Outer South East falls within a much localised area around , Kippax, Micklefield and Parlington MX2-39. A full assessment of the impact of this level of development on the local area hasn't been undertaken by LCC or Highways England. The local road network around the Parlington development cannot accommodate increased volumes of traffic. lndeed Junction 47 M t is not able to cope with present capacity at peak times and is dangerous with vehicles standing on the motorway trying to exit.

I believe the inclusion of Parlington into the SAP has been not thought through and has had little consultation with the local community. 1t is unsustainable as a strategic settlement, unsound, and not in line with Leeds City councils own adopted Core Strategy.

I am not against housíng developments but believe green belt should not be used until all brown field sites have been developed. Parlington should not be considered before other sites in view of its historic importance. lt cannot be compared to a site such as Headley Hall.

lf the housing number required in this area is found to be accurate then I believe the houses should be distributed across the villages and towns in line with the settlement hierarchy.

Yours Sincerely