500 homes approved despite fears of extra traffic

Permission has been granted for 500 homes on the outskirts of Stevenage, despite concerns roads will not be able to deal with the extra traffic generated.

Stevenage Borough Council's planning committee approved plans for the homes of between two and five bedrooms, including some in three-storey blocks of flats, to be built on land between the A602 and the railway line near Bragbury End.

More than 200 people signed a petition opposing the scheme on the grounds it would cause extra traffic and residents would have poor access to services such as schools.

The council said access to the site would be from a new junction with traffic lights on the road.

The development will include open spaces, such as children's play areas and a series of "pocket parks", as well as a neighbourhood centre with space for shops and a GP surgery.

Only 24% of the housing will be affordable, despite the council's own policies requiring sites to provide 40%, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

A council officer said 24% was the amount deemed "viable" based on independently assessed financial figures.

Rob Henry, Reform UK councillor, told the committee the A602 was "a very busy road at the best of times".

A council officer said Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board had not provided any comments about the possibility of a GP surgery on the site, despite requests to do so.

Two councillors, Labour's Claire Parris and Liberal Democrat Julie Ashley-Wren, said it was "disappointing" that the NHS had not responded to the council.

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