Developers have walked away from their bid to build hundreds of homes in Chorleywood.
Three Rivers District Council had refused Chiltern Hills Golf Club’s plan to construct up to 800 homes in an area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB), off Green Street.
When council members debated the proposals in March, former councillor Alison Wall (Con, Chorleywood North and Sarratt) warned that approving the plans could unlock a “massive sprawling conurbation all the way to Oxford”.
The committee refused planning permission for the Chorleywood scheme, but the developers lodged an appeal with the Planning Inspectorate.
They have since decided to abandon their challenge, and the appeal was listed as withdrawn on Monday, October 30.
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According to planning agent Savills, 800 homes in the Metro-land village would have helped to “rebalance the mix and type of housing in Chorleywood to assist in the retention of first-time buyers and downsizers in the area, and free up existing family stock”.
The planning statement read: “There is a very clear need for housing in Three Rivers and Chorleywood.”
It added: “The development impacts on the landscape and scenic beauty of the AONB and harm to the green belt by virtue of inappropriateness, and loss of open space would be limited and contained within the site.
“Significant adverse effects would be mitigated through landscape enhancements to further soften and screen the development.
“The application site is one of, if not the, [sic] most sustainable locations in the district capable of delivering the scale of development proposed.”
When councillors debated the application, Cllr Wall said: “We have a precious six per cent of our district in the AONB.
“We have a moral and a legal duty to protect these areas.
“This development risks merging Chorleywood and Little Chalfont.
“A sense of being and a sense of place is so important for public health.”
Cllr Ciarán Reed (Con, Chorleywood North and Sarratt) said: “Schools in Chorleywood are at capacity.
“Unless they are going to provide a new school which we do not have the site for, then this application should be refused.”
Cllr Sarah Nelmes (LD, Penn and Mill End) said: “I appreciate the public sentiments on this.
“The school capacity is a particular issue.”
The Rickmansworth area councillor added she would find it “very difficult” to support the application because it would use land within the Chiltern Hills.
Areas of outstanding natural beauty are protected areas given their status by government ministers, and any developers who want to build in them must make sure their proposals “have regard for the purpose of conserving and enhancing the natural beauty of the AONB”, according to Natural England.
Three Rivers District Council received a total of 897 comments of objection to the application for 800 homes on land east of Green Street.
The authority received seven comments in support.
Reacting to the developers’ decision to withdraw their appeal, Cllr Reed said: “This is a brilliant win for local people power.
“We’ve been delighted to work with and speak alongside so many residents to get these proposals withdrawn – and we’re ready to win this battle again if needed.”
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