A planning committee has been recommended to refuse plans to build 330 affordable homes for key workers on green belt land.

St Albans District Council officers are concerned about the size and impact of the development at St Stephens Farm in Chiswell Green, a report says.

Former world champion boxer Steve Collins announced towards the end of last year to build hundreds of discounted homes for key workers on his land as a "thank you" for their efforts over the pandemic.

The plans for the development, known as Addison Park, would see all 330 homes designated as affordable, predominantly through shared ownership.

The developers outlined a housing mix comprising of 32 one, 116 two and 182 three-bedroom homes targeting the likes of blue light workers, teachers, and military personnel.

Mr Collins added: "I’m in the fortunate position to be able to [also] discount every single property by a third. If the market value is £540,000 the property will be made available for £360,000."

Planning agent Brian Parker, of McPartland Planning, said his client "wants to address the very real gap in the market to provide affordable home ownership for the most valuable in society".

Previous: Boxing champ wants to build 330 discounted homes exclusively for key workers

Watford Observer: The land earmarked for Addison Park. Credit: Google MapsThe land earmarked for Addison Park. Credit: Google Maps (Image: Google Maps)

However, the outline planning application hasn't proved a hit with locals with 359 objections made via the planning portal with objections as well from the Campaign to Protect Rural England and St Albans Civic Society.

Concerns raised include the loss of countryside and infrastructure, and how affordable the homes will actually be in this particular area, where median house prices in St Albans are more than double that of the England average, according to Office for National Statistics from September 2020.

Watford Observer: A zoomed out look of the development site. Credit: Google MapsA zoomed out look of the development site. Credit: Google Maps

Council officers are also unconvinced about the scheme in Chiswell Green Lane, which includes Mr Collins' polo field, and have recommended councillors reject the plans.

Their reasons for refusal include the development constituting inappropriate development on the green belt, a lack of a Section 106 legal agreement to fund local services and the number of dwellings in an area with limited access to public transport.

Councillors will discuss the plans at a meeting of the planning referrals committee on March 28.