Housing plans at Rectory Farm 'go extra mile' for community

Plans have been submitted to build another 135 homes at Rectory Farm in Hempstead Road, Kings Langley.

There are 55 homes already under construction but landowner Angle Property wants to boost the total number to 190.

The plans are being met with opposition by campaigners concerned about the loss of green belt land.

Read more: Plans for 135 homes at Rectory Farm in Kings Langley submitted

Rectory Farm is green belt land but it is private and closed off for public use

Kings Langley Parish Council and Kings Langley & District Residents’ Association are among those registering objections, while campaign group Green Belt Matters fears approval by Dacorum Borough Council could set a “chilling precedent” for more “irreplaceable” village green belt to be developed.

The land at Rectory Farm is privately owned and off-limits but James Good, director of Angle Property, and Sean Watson, who is senior land manager at housebuilder Cala Homes, say their plans will open the land up to the public.

Read more: Trial over man killed in his own flat halted

A CGI of the proposed development. Credit: JTP

They say their vision is to provide a place to enjoy, eat, socialise and relax for children and adults in Kings Langley.

Some of the community facilities planned include a country park, orchard, allotments, café/farmshop, cycle hub and repair shed, meeting space, and new walking links to the canal.

A CGI of what community facilities at Rectory Farm could look like. Credit: JTP

A masterplan of the proposal. Credit: Angle Property/Cala Homes

Although acknowledging concerns about building on green belt, they said: “Developers should be responsible and we feel like this is the right thing to do for this site. It’s not out of keeping and we feel like we are going above and beyond to help meet local need.

“The reality is if we don’t get planning permission, the land will stay as it is.”

Read more: Objections fly in over plans to build houses at Harts Farm in Bushey

A mixture of houses and flats are proposed with 40 per cent of the 135 homes designated as affordable. This is currently being looked at homes for affordable rent and shared ownership. Credit: JTP

Angle and Cala have been working closely with the Sunnyside Rural Trust, which is a charity and social enterprise working with people with learning disabilities, about using the new community facilities.

The trust’s chief executive Keely Siddiqi Charlick said: “This is a huge investment in the community. At Sunnyside, we have never seen do much demand and they will be building a lovely park and a therapeutic area. I feel they have gone the extra mile – perhaps 1,500 vulnerable people will benefit a year."

Land at Rectory Farm. Previous land that was hit by fire is currently being redeveloped into 55 homes by Miller Homes

She added: “I love the countryside but this is a closed site. If it was a rich wildflower meadow, I’m sure I’d be against it.”  

View the application on the council planning portal via reference 22/01836/MFA.

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