Dozens of objections have been made after an applicant returned with a revised proposal to construct two warehouses.

At the end of 2019, Three Rivers District Council's planning committee turned down a scheme to redevelop land north of Maple Cross lodge.

Despite being allocated by the council as employment land, the committee refused the application on a number of grounds including the scale and design of the warehouses, the loss of protected trees, and what impact the plans could have on groundwater.

Applicants BCL (Maple Cross) LLP & Impact Property Development appealed the decision but lost after the government's planning inspector said "insufficient"evidence had been provided about what piling and other development on the site could have on the effect of public water supply.

However, the inspector, while noting concerns from neighbours, supported the principle of development on the site.

The applicants say they have liaised with Affinity Water and say the new application "comprehensively addresses" the concerns raised by the council and the inspector, regarding the effect on water supply, including the publication of a 'piling method statement and risk assessment'.

The application site. Credit: Google Earth

The application site. Credit: Google Earth

But the new application has provided an opportunity for residents in Maple Cross to flood the council's planning portal with new objections, including air pollution concerns.

The Maple Cross and West Hyde Residents' Association has created leaflets which is being distributed to homes urging people to object to the scheme.

The association believes the area, which is already dealing with the impact of HS2 construction, could see up to a 1,000 extra vehicle trips a day as a result of this development.

This leaflet created by the Maple Cross and West Hyde Residents Association is being distributed to homes

This leaflet created by the Maple Cross and West Hyde Residents' Association is being distributed to homes

The applicants want to build on the empty greenfield land which is on the edge of an employment zone.

Planning documents claim the warehouses, comprising a total of 16,115 sq metres could bring nearly 300 full-time jobs, in addition to construction jobs.

The warehouses are slightly lower and on a slightly lower footprint than when the council discussed the proposal in 2019.

There were 255 objections last time round and these latest plans have so far attracted 182 objections.

The latest planning application can be found here.