Plans for 195 homes on Radlett green belt land return

Fairfax Properties has resubmitted an application for  grassland between Shenley Hill and Theobald Street in Radlett, following the rejection by the government upon appeal on January 26.

The developer wants to build almost 200 new homes as well as provide space for a new home for Red House GP surgery and expand the neighbouring Newberries Primary School.

The previous plans had met a fierce backlash as the Hertsmere planning portal shows that 2812 objections were registered against the scheme, in comparison to just two comments in support.

An outline of the proposed development site. (Image: Google Maps) Upon appeal, the planning inspectorate had judged the scheme’s benefits did not “clearly outweigh the overall significant harm to the green belt and the substantial adverse landscape effects on the character and appearance of the area”.

According to planning documents released on Friday (September 20), Fairfax has claimed that very special circumstances do exist to permit the development under new “grey belt” definition, which was added to the National Planning Policy Framework by the Labour government in July.

An overview of the proposed development (Image: Fairfax Properties) The new planning rules state that development may be permitted on protected land if it has been previously developed, or makes a “limited contribution” to the green belt.

The developer argued that the plot makes a limited to no contribution to the surrounding green area as it has a “strong relationship” with the existing urban area and would constitute a “logical and planned extension” to Radlett.

It added that the current grassland made “no contribution” to preventing neighbouring towns from merging.

The developers argued the plot makes limited to no contribution to the local green belt. (Image: Newsquest) The proposed estate would include 62 two-bed houses, 69 three-bed properties and 23 four-bedroom houses.

There would also be eight one-bed flats and 33 two-bedroom apartments, with 50 per cent of all properties offered at affordable rates

• Objections flood in after housing plans that will 'destroy' green belt submitted
• Plans for nearly 200 homes on green belt land submitted

A banner opposing the previous application for 195 homes by the Save Hertsmere campaign group. (Image: Newsquest) It would be accessed at the north western end from Shenley Road, with footpaths connecting it to the primary school and Theobald Street.

The documents include plans to relocate the Red House GP surgery as Fairfax said the three local practices had been “operating at full capacity for a number of years”.

Expanding the neighbouring Newberries Primary School would also reportedly accommodate the increase in children arising from the scheme and future estates, according to the developer.