I am writing as a local resident to formally object to the proposed allocation of 750 homes on Mapperley Golf Course (HOU 3) in the Gedling Local Development Plan Publication Draft. I consider this allocation to be neither legally compliant nor sound. 1. THE COUNCIL'S OWN ASSESSMENT RATES THIS THE WORST SITE By Gedling Borough Council's own sustainability appraisal matrix, Mapperley Golf Course is the lowest-scoring housing site in the entire borough. It has been assessed as the costliest and least efficient use of land, particularly given drainage, flooding and highways constraints. It is not sound to allocate the borough's worst-scoring site. 2. CONTRADICTS THE COUNCIL'S OWN STRATEGY The proposal directly contradicts the Council's own Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sports Strategy, published less than three years ago, which concluded it was imperative to protect the borough's golf courses including Mapperley. The Council has not explained this contradiction. 3. CONFLICT OF INTEREST The Council is both the planning authority and the landowner. The lease expires in 2030 and the Council does not intend to renew it, so it stands to benefit financially from development of land it owns. This conflict of interest must be transparently addressed. 4. STATUTORY AND EXPERT OBJECTIONS Sport England states the site should be protected from development unless an NPPF paragraph 104 exception applies, which it does not. Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust confirms the site provides valuable green space for people and wildlife. The local MP opposed the development as an important recreational, heritage and biodiversity asset. These are not objections that can be lightly dismissed. 5. UNDELIVERED INFRASTRUCTURE PRECEDENT Previous GBC-approved developments in this area promised a new school, retail outlets and a health centre. None were delivered. Infrastructure commitments deferred to planning application stage cannot be relied upon. 6. HEALTHCARE AND EDUCATION AT CAPACITY Mapperley Plains Primary School is already at 108% capacity (gov.uk). The Council nonetheless claims no additional funding would be required for school places, which is not credible. Local GP services are already overstretched and no funded plan to expand primary care has been published. 7. HIGHWAYS Nottinghamshire County Council (Highways) advised that multiple access points should be provided along Arnold Lane; the proposed plan has only one. Roads serving the site are already used as a cut-through between Mapperley Top and Westdale Lane. No adequate Transport Impact Assessment has been published. 8. FLOODING AND DRAINAGE Drainage and flooding contributed to a previous proposal here being found unviable in 2011. Residents continue to raise surface water concerns. No updated hydraulic modelling has been published to show these constraints have been resolved. 9. TREES AND PROTECTED SPECIES The site contains over 8,000 trees and supports protected wildlife including bats, a European Protected Species under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017. No habitat survey or biodiversity net gain assessment has been published. 10. IRREPLACEABLE COMMUNITY GREEN SPACE Mapperley Golf Club is open to all, not just golfers, hosting free community events and providing valuable green space. Its loss would be permanent and irreversible. For these reasons the allocation is unsound and not legally compliant. I request that the Mapperley Golf Course allocation (HOU 3) be removed from the Plan. Name: [YOUR FULL NAME] Address: [YOUR FULL ADDRESS]