Campaigners have claimed the floodgates are now open as a green belt homes plan triggered a backlash.
A planning application for a 70-bed care home block and 33 homes at Shaffold Knoll, an area of green belt land between Nash Mills and Kings Langley, was submitted to Dacorum Borough Council last week.
The developer, Clovercourt, cited the appeal decision allowing a 135-home development to go ahead at Rectory Farm in nearby Kings Langley in May as an example of how a case for very special circumstances to develop in the green belt can be made in its planning documents.
- Nash Mills green belt could see 33 homes and care home built
- Appeal overturns refusal for 135-home project in the green belt
- Developer 'delighted' 135-home Rectory Farm plan to go ahead
Kings Langley and District Residents Association spoke out against the Rectory Farm scheme at every stage and has said it will “strongly object” to the Shaffold Knoll plan too.
However, it fears “following recent decisions, it will be a tough one to stop”.
“This is why we were so worried about Rectory Farm setting a precedent and all the other developers jumping on the bandwagon with plans to expand Kings Langley,” said chairman Gary Ansell.
CGI of how the development would look, submitted alongside the plan. (Image: Progress Design/Clovercourt (Sarratt) Ltd/Dacorum Council planning portal.)
“Its going to slaughter it as a village.”
The group apparently knows of other developers who have land around the village which, if built on, would further erode the gap between it and nearby areas such as Hemel Hempstead.
“It's death of the green belt by a thousand cuts," he added.
Since Monday, 14 objections have been added to the planning portal as well as three comments in support.
The principal issue for disgruntled neighbours is the loss of open space, with several saying “we need out green belt” and arguing that brownfield land should be developed instead.
CGI showing how the approved Rectory Farm development will look. (Image: Cala Homes)
Others highlighted overdevelopment, traffic, demand on infrastructure, and the proximity to Water Mill House Care Home up the road as further reasons to object.
Clovercourt managing director Gary Sewell said the “lower overall density” proposal is in “a very sustainable location", with access to public transport and the canal, while causing “negligible” traffic.
The site is used as a car boot site with hardstanding, which the developer says means it is not in great condition — “more ‘grey belt’ than greenbelt”.
It also highlighted the 35 per cent affordable housing provision, 47 per cent increase in biodiversity, and the 60 jobs the care home will create as benefits.
Shaffold Knoll, Nash Mills. (Image: Google Street View)
Mr Sewell said: “If we are going to get Britain building again and try and create some growth for public services this is exactly the right scheme to build.
“The brownfield first argument is tired, and we all know there isn’t any available brownfield land left. If the brownfield land existed we wouldn’t be four million homes short in the UK.”
He added: “There is a great demand for another care home in this location, and very special circumstances exist to help free up more family houses for young families.”
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