Expansion plans at a petrol station have been refused after green belt concerns were raised.

An extension, electric vehicle charging points, and new facilities were proposed for Sandy Lodge Service Station, between South Oxhey Playing Fields and Merchant Taylors School, in May but Three Rivers District Council refused the plans yesterday (July 7).

Eight charging bays would have been added to the site.

The planning statement claimed that the extension would not result in disproportionate additions over and above the size of the original building, which is important when developing in the green belt.

It also highlighted the environmental benefits of supporting electric vehicles and the filling station being far from other buildings.

However, in its decision, the council said that the proposed development “would represent an inappropriate form of development, failing to preserve the openness of the green belt and would spread urbanising development within an undeveloped part of the site.”

Concerns over harm to the “verdant” street scene, insufficient drainage and groundwater information being provided, and tree removal were also raised in the decision as reasons permission was refused.