More than 2,500 people have now signed our petition. But it's important that formal objections are submitted directly to Newcastle City Council too. So far only 23 people have submitted an objection on the council. Please login or register to submit your objections here: https://publicaccessapplications.newcastle.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=makeComment&keyVal=OPOK2PBS0EQ00 You can also email the case officer Adam Nilsson via adam.nilsson@newcastle.gov.uk, quoting planning application 2017/0666/01/OUT. Here are some points you may wish to include in your objection: • Object to planning application 2017/0666/01/OUT for 1,200 residential dwellings and playing fields in Cell A and B1 of Newcastle Great Park. • Contravenes Policy NN4, which only allocated land for 880 residential units in Cell A, not 1,200. • Contravenes Policy CS18 on green infrastructure and the natural environment, which states that high quality and comprehensive frameworks of interconnected green infrastructure will be achieved by protection, enhancement and management of green infrastructure, including biodiversity, designated sites and wildlife corridors and priority habitats and species, trees, woodland and hedgerows. • Contravenes Policy EN3 on landscaping and trees, which states the quality of the city’s landscape will be enhanced by protecting areas of greatest value, retaining trees and woodlands and greatly increasing the amount of planting. • Contravenes Policy NC1.1 on protection of recognised sites, which states the nature conservation resources of the city will be maintained and enhanced by the protection of habitats. • Contravenes Policy NC1.4 on local nature reserves, which states development that would cause harm to an existing local nature reserve should only be permitted where it can be shown the need for development cannot be met in other locations where there would be less harm to wildlife interests. • Contravenes Policy NC1.5 on protection of wildlife corridors, which states development that would harm the nature conservation of a wildlife corridor will be allowed only in exceptional circumstances. • Contravenes Policy NC1.7 on requirements on development, which states the need for providing appropriate measures on or offsite to offset the loss or disturbance of wildlife habitats. The proposed mitigation is insufficient to compensate for the loss and fragmentation of habitat and disturbance to protected species. • Contravenes Policy NC1.7 on requirements on development, which states the need for providing appropriate measures on or offsite to offset the loss or disturbance of wildlife habitats. • Havannah and Three Hills Nature Reserve provides habitat for several protected species, including the legally protected Red Squirrel and Great Crested Newt, Badger, Bat, Otter and several bird species, many of which are on the Red List as species of conservation concern. Many farmland birds, which are in steep decline will lose vital habitat if permission is granted for this development. Havannah contains one of only two areas of lowland heath in Newcastle and provides habitat for the Dingy Skipper, which is rare in the region. • Increased recreational activity and more domestic pets in and around the reserve as a result of high density development will have severe adverse effects on wildlife, which will be compounded by light spill, noise and other disturbance. • Land around the reserve currently acts as a buffer zone between red and grey squirrels but 1,200 houses with garden will attract grey squirrels and compromise the existing red population. • Contravenes the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act (2006), which places a duty on all public bodies to conserve biodiversity. • Contravenes Section 11, Paragraph 109 of the National Planning Policy Framework on conserving and enhancing the natural environment, which states that the planning system should contribute to and enhance the natural and local environment by protecting and enhancing valued landscapes and recognising the wider benefits of ecosystem services.