Council opposes plans to build homes on green belt

Campaigners held up a banner and notices ahead of the Hertsmere Borough Council meeting on Thursday night to show their opposition

Plans to build 310 homes on green belt land have been declared unacceptable by councillors.

Redrow had submitted plans to Hertsmere Borough Council for the homes to be built on Harts Farm, in Little Bushey, Hertfordshire, saying they were "much-needed".

It lodged an appeal with the planning inspectorate on 17 January after the council failed to rule on the application before an agreed deadline.

At a planning meeting, councillors unanimously agreed that had the application been put to them before an appeal, it would not have granted planning permission.

Redrow said the development would bring jobs to the area

At the meeting, the council decided it would defend the appeal made to the planning inspectorate for a final decision on the plans.

Campaigners from the Little Bushey Community group, which is against the plans, said the homes would increase traffic on busy roads and the risk of flooding in the area.

Nik Oakley, from Little Bushey Community (fourth left), said building on the land would lead to a "loss of amenity spaces"

John Mann, for Redrow South Midlands, said: "Our aim is to bring a range of much-needed new homes and jobs to the area, as well as making a substantial investment in community facilities."

The applicant had claimed there were grounds to build on the green belt as a result of "very special circumstances" surrounding the proposal, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.