Three Rivers local plan: Council to 'refuse' to build on certain greenbelt sites

The council is putting together its local plan, which will help shape future development across the district.

Councillors and officers have been tasked with finding space to build around 10,000 new homes over the next 15 years in a district which is more than 70 per cent greenbelt land.

With a list of potential development sites ready to go out to consultation, senior Liberal Democrats say they are "on the side of residents" and are refusing to put forward some sites which have been deemed appropriate to build on.

This includes land between Abbots Langley and Kings Langley, known as the 'Kings Langley estate', where more than 2,000 homes have been proposed to be built either side of the M25.

Outlined in red is roughly the land referred to by the council as the 'Kings Langley Estate' where they are appear to be refusing to build as many as 2,000 homes. Credit: Google

The other piece of land is off Rousebarn Lane, where nearly 800 homes could be built on land between Croxley Green and Chandler's Cross.

Matthew Bedford, the lead councillor working on the local plan, says the council is also ready to refuse a list of contingency sites being put forward for development.

This includes land next door to Parmiter's School, further parts of the Kings Langley Estate, land south of Bedmond, Hill Farm in Chorleywood, and land at Heronsgate.

A rough outline of land at Heronsgate, being considered a contingency site for around 1,600 homes that Lib Dems say they will refuse to put forward. Credit: Google

Cllr Bedford said: "We have a responsibility to provide sites for new homes in the area so our young people and elderly downsizers have places they can afford locally.

"But this cannot be at the expense of the quality of life and wellbeing of our existing residents. If residents agree with us, we hope they will respond to the consultation and support our proposal to safeguard key areas next to existing settlements.

"Frankly the government figures are so totally wrong where Three Rivers is concerned and 72 per cent of our land is greenbelt."

Cllr Bedford has called on Conservative MP's Gagan Mohindra and Dean Russell, who both represent residents in Three Rivers, to join them in challenging the targets set by the Government.

In the run-up to the local elections earlier this month, David Zerny, who ran as an Independent councillor in Three Rivers, told the Observer he did not believe his council was doing enough to fight back on the targets.

David Zerny, who ran as an Independent candidate at the recent Three Rivers local elections, says he does not want to see any building on the greenbelt

According to documents published ahead of a full council meeting on May 25, the council has already ruled out redeveloping around 220 sites that had been suggested by developers or landowners.

These sites range from garages to golf courses, yards to depots, buildings to farms, and huge swathes of green fields - and the sites are spread across Three Rivers' towns and villages. A full list of those sites can be found here.

However, there are 75 sites that are being taken forward for public consultation and are at risk of being redeveloped.

The biggest site is for 1,500 homes on land to the west and south of Maple Cross, while other large sites include land west of the Kings Langley Estate (893 homes), land at Carpenders Park Farm (495), land south of Little Oxhey Lane in Carpenders Park (678), land to the south of Shepherds Lane and west of the M25 in Mill End (760), and land at Batchworth Golf Course (618).

A full list of 75 sites can be found in the table below.

Some land has also been put forward to be redeveloped for employment purposes. This includes expansion of Warner Bros Studios in Leavesden.

The full set of local plan documents can be found on the district council's website here as part of the agenda for the meeting to take place on May 25.

District councillors will be asked to agree to recommendations as set out in the council papers, which include agreeing to protect the sites they refuse to put forward for redevelopment.