East Herts Employment Land and Policy Review

26^th March 2008

Dear Mr. Drivylas,

East Herts Employment Land and Policy Review

Stakeholder Consultation

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the above. Our answers to your specific questions are as follows:

The existing supply of employment land (primarily Park Farm Industrial Estate, Watermill Industrial Estate, Sunnyside Estate and the Sainsbury site) and premises does appear to be sufficient to meet the current demand from local sources.

The existing supply is likely to more than meet future demand if the site being vacated by Sainsbury is developed. Whilst land is available for development on the Watermill Industrial Estate, that development cannot take place without significant improvements to the road access to the site (see current East Herts Local Plan).

The Civic Society is of the view that Park Farm, Watermill and Sunnyside employment sites need to be safeguarded for employment because of their importance to the local economy and the social wellbeing of Buntingford. The same is true of a significant part of the Sainsbury site - but see comments below.

The extensive area of the Sainsbury site suggests that it could be developed for mixed use in future � part employment, part housing, part health and part schooling. Any development should place emphasis on landscaping to significantly improve the impact of the site on the local countryside.

Whilst we see the above listed sites as being able to satisfy the needs for the foreseeable future, that view is based on the assumption that the growth of Buntingford will be at much the same rate as it has been over the last twenty years or so. For this reason, we do not see the need to identify potential new employment locations at this time. However, should the need for new locations arise, we are of the view that they should be chosen in such a way as to ensure that new developments do not impinge adversely on the surrounding local landscape and that the rural character of this part of East Hertfordshire is maintained.

I trust you will find these comments useful. We would appreciate being sent a copy of the resulting Employment Land and Policy Review document.

Yours sincerely,

Joyce Jackson (Secretary, Buntingford Civic Society)