Response from Mr and Mrs A and B A Jackson (Individual)
1. Mr and Mrs A and B A Jackson (Individual) : 7 Jul 2008 10:38:00
Please write your comment or explain your reasons for supporting or opposing this part of the Report. You may also wish to refer to the tests of soundess in the glossary of the Preferred Options document before making your comments.
Following the recent proposals to include extended areas of land within Holme village in the local plan, we feel that this is to be wholly supported on the grounds that more affordable and sustainable housing is urgently required. Many first time buyers' especially local people are forced to move out of the village and away from the area; this has a negative effect on the village community and amenities.
Holme village supports a wide range of facilities including a local primary school and playgroup, a church, a chapel, a grocery store and a post office as well as a long established local pub and village hall with many groups meeting there and using the facility. Holme has a cricket field and bowling green all of which local people work hard to maintain and sustain these for the future of an evolving village community.
Holme is well located for good transport links for both the M6 motorway and Oxenholme Railway Station, providing easy commuting for those working further a field.
We feel that further development as indicated by the suggested sites would enhance the village and not detract from it, providing that sensible locations be approved. The area referred to as South Holme is in deed an ideal location for affordable sustainable housing, with good planning and sympathetic architectural design we feel sure the piece of land would blend in very well, with a good mix of different sized houses to accommodate varying needs ranging from first time buyers, to families, to retired people. This particular piece of land is ideally situated to be regarded favourably as infill, thereby not affecting the rural fringes of the village.
With today's building and design technology new houses are environmentally friendly and fuel efficient addressing the environmental impact of new housing developments in line with recent Government proposals in the Housing Green Paper. The Government is eventually acknowledging the issue that more housing is required to fill the huge shortfall. Infill within existing villages and towns seems a sensible way to go, adding to not detracting from local services and amenities.