Decision on Sutcliffe Road, Bushey 27-home scheme deferred

Following objections from neighbours and concerns over the access and number of homes being raised at the planning meeting on Thursday last week, land at the end of Sutcliffe Close and Ford Close in Bushey has not moved closer to being built.

Despite this, Hertsmere Borough Council’s planning committee generally felt that the site, which is next to green belt land to the north and east but is not itself designated as green belt, was well suited to development.

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The planning application being considered was only an outline application to gauge whether the principle of the development would be acceptable, with all matters besides the access reserved.

A further, more detailed, planning application would have to be submitted before work could have taken place. However, with 114 traffic movements expected daily from the proposed development, it was the small private access road and the impact on nearby roads that caused concern.

Councillor Paul Morris, who proposed the deferral, suggested it would give time for officers to discuss “scaling down the numbers” with the applicant. The Conservative added that he would be reluctant to vote to refuse because he felt that there could be “a very good development” at the site.

CGI attached to the plan. (Image: DLA Architects Practice/Hertsmere Planning Portal/Annington Property Ltd)

Liberal Democrat Councillor Maxie Allen, who voted for deferral, highlighted that the council already receives complaints over traffic safety in the nearby Turner Road, which could be exacerbated by added journeys, but also raised the possibility that a decision to reject the plan may be challenged by an appeal.

Meanwhile, Councillor Helen Green felt that building at the site would always have an impact on traffic and reducing the scale of the development would not make a huge difference to the nearby roads but would reduce the viability of the scheme and the amount of affordable housing provided.

The Labour councillor therefore supported approving the outline application and voted deferring it.

The application site near Sutcliffe Road. (Image: Google Maps/Newsquest)

The designs that went forward at the meeting included 17 homes for market and 10 affordable units.

This is made up of a mix of two-, three-, and four-bedroom houses as well as a block of one- and two-bedroom apartment. It also included 54 parking spaces.

The planning committee voted six to four for deferral.