Social Housing needed at Goods Yard development
Bishop's Stortford needs more houses. Most of all, with house prices and rents high, it needs affordable and social housing. The new development must help to address the chronic shortfall of places to live for those who are less affluent and are on a shockingly long waiting list to be housed. But what is vitally important for all residents, both present and future, is that any new housing is sustainable and an asset to the town.
The Goods Yard, if developed in the right way, could fulfil some of that remit. The awful amount of congestion in parts of Bishop's Stortford and the health-endangering levels of pollution at Hockerill crossroads simply must not be allowed to get worse due to an increase in traffic from the new development. A through road at the site would provide a new route to the town centre, and potentially lessen the levels of pollution and congestion at Hockerill.
Bishop's Stortford also suffers from infrequent bus services and a poor walking and cycling environment. With attractive pathways and cycle routes, this development could incentivise people to leave their cars at home more often. And let's not forget one of the reasons we love this town is its historic character and pleasing appearance.
I hope Solum design the housing in keeping with the feel of our area, provide much-needed social and affordable housing and at the very least, do not make the scandalous levels of pollution and congestion any worse for us long-suffering residents.