https://ickleford-pc.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Pound-Farm-Facebook-and-website.pdf
Dear Icklefordians, many I know will think I am wasting your time in what I am about to write, but
I am firmly of the opinion, that if we don’t make our voices heard and seen in writing, we might as
well consider ourselves part of, what could possibly be known as, Hitchin New Town.
Your Parish Council was very disappointed to bear witness to a Planning Committee that couldn’t
care less about their fellow man, not caring for our beautiful countryside and what it holds in the
shape of flora and fauna, but more importantly, in the case of Ickleford, whether our children
breath fresh air, run the risk of being killed on our local roads, or whether they can walk to their
local school instead of having to travel to other towns for education.
On many occasions now, the PC have taken onboard the horrendous situations caused by our
antiquated sewage pipes, asking North Herts Council to defer or refuse new planning
applications, until Anglian Water stand up to the plate and install a pipe system that can handle
all outgoing needs, especially during and after a deluge of rain. Our request, however, has fallen
on deaf ears.
Yes, you are right, all the Planning Committee is interested in, because the majority of them are
Labour, is fulfilling the Government’s chaotic plan for more housing, in turn setting a high
demand, in number, for each County and District Council to fulfil. In the case of the North Herts
Council, their greatest problem is the lack of land, so when a ‘greedy’ Developer arrives at their
door grasping acreage and tempting affordable housing numbers, everything like countryside
with its flora and fauna, and our children’s future, is forgotten.
A typical example and one which your Parish Council hopes you will support them, with your
objections, is as follows. We would, however, like to clarify a few points, to assist you with your
decision:
Planning Application 26/00558/HYA – Land at Pound Farm, Bedford Road, Ickleford,
Hertfordshire, SG5 3RS
Hybrid Application: Hybrid application for a mixed-use development to provide a total of up to 230
dwellings, a residential care home (Use Class C2), an Independent Special School (ISS) and new sports
pitch, with access from Bedford Road, landscaping, parking and SuDS comprising: Phase Application
for full planning permission for the erection of 100 dwellings, an ISS, new sports pitch and associated
parking, landscaping, open space and SuDS; Phase 2 An outline application on the remaining part of
the site for the erection of up to 130 dwellings, a residential care home (Use Class C2) and associated
works with access from Bedford Road (all matters reserved apart from access).
The Developer seems to have dropped the SEND title for ISS. For those who have not ‘grasped’ the
situation of this ‘privately’ run school, we would like to offer the following. It is planned that this school
will accommodate 30 male pupils only, aged 13+. These pupils may not come from this area as it is
done on a ‘needs’ policy, so if someone from Cambridge or beyond fulfils these needs, then they are
more likely to attain a position at the school than someone local. With the Government saying that it is
their proposal to ensure that ‘all’ SEND children should gain the help and learning they need through
State school education, then it is the Parish Council’s belief that this private school, is not required.
Also, for those of you that are not aware of what a Class C2 Care Home is, we can offer the following
explanation – ‘Class C2 refers to residential institutions that provide accommodation and care for
individuals who need assistance, such as elderly residents or those with disabilities. This includes care
homes, nursing homes, hospitals and similar facilities where care is a central part of the living
arrangement.’
The Care Home in question will be sited in an area that is will be dangerous for any form of transport
entering or exiting the development, being situated on a very dangerous part of the Bedford Road.
As you can see the development will be in two phases. The first for 100 dwellings to include the ISS and
the second phase will include the remaining 130 dwellings and the Care Home.
Traffic to and from this development daily, will be horrendous, for example:
Phase 1
200+ cars (houses etc.)
30
Taxis (for ISS pupils)
30+
cars (staff ISS school)
260+ Approximate Total
Phase 2
260+ cars (houses etc.)
30+
cars (staff for Care Home)
20+
10+
cars (Visitors Care Home)
Vehicles (ambulances, minibuses etc., Care Home)
320+ Approximate Total
Total Vehicle approximation for Phase 1 and 2 is: 580+ vehicles per day! (please note, this is an
approximate figure, it could be more!)
After seeking advice, it has been confirmed that this agricultural land, which has been farmed for
hundreds of years to date, is classed as Grade 2 – 3a which is of good food production quality.
The best and most versatile land is defined as Grades 1, 2 and 3a and is the land which is the
most productive and efficient in response to delivering food and non-food crops for future
generations.
The Parish Council is naturally very concerned that this land will, like most of the land
surrounding Ickleford, be disregarded and will lose, not only its Green Belt status, but more
importantly its versatility to produce food.
This is only a resume of what this development, if allowed to go ahead, will do to our village.
Please, please, go online to the NHC Portal and read what this Developer intends to do to ‘our’
countryside. We don’t want more homes in Ickleford; with the Government’s new proposal we
don’t need privately run ISS Schools; and we certainly don’t, for the safety of our Highways, need
a Care Home in this location.
Your Parish Council is not going to give up the fight for ‘our’ Green Belt with its excellent productive land,
clean air and less vehicles on our roads. Please stand with us, your opinion counts, so let it be seen.
We have been granted an extension until the 25th May to put forward our objections online. However, if
you struggle to get online to the NHC portal, or you miss the deadline, please don’t give up, you can still
‘email’ your objection to: planning.control@north-herts.gov.uk, or send by post to: North Herts Council,
PO Box 7075, Manchester, M28 8JX, ensuring you quote the Application Reference number.
Thank you for your time in reading this message.
Kathy Goldie
Chairman – Ickleford Parish Council