Councillors rallied to the defence of the borough's Green Belt land this week and defied a Government recommendation that homes could be built on Woodcock Hill.

A Government inspector had advised Hertsmere Borough Council that land at Vale Avenue and Byron Avenue, Borehamwood, should lose its Green Belt protection.

But on Wednesday councillors unanimously agreed that the land, part of which is already owned by a property developer, should remain as Green Belt for at least 11 years.

Members accepted the borough council had identified a sufficient number of sites to achieve its housebuilding targets and did not, at this stage, need to consider development of Green Belt land.

Council leader Stuart Nagler said: 'The council is pretty resolved on the issue of Green Belt ,, we have got to make as much use as possible of any 'brownfield' previously-developed sites.'

The council's draft of the Local Plan, its planning brief for the next 11 years, had suggested four sites should lose their Green Belt status, and the inspector added part of Woodcock Hill to the list.

Following the Local Plan inquiry last year, he suggested Woodcock Hill could be considered for housing after 2011, but this week the council agreed not to look at future development on the five sites.

Dr Ann Goddard, of Elstree and Borehamwood Green Belt Society, welcomed the news, saying: 'We are absolutely delighted because Woodcock Hill is an essential open space and an area of considerable natural beauty.'

But she confirmed that, in light of current proposals to increase the number of houses being built in Hertfordshire, the society would continue its fight to protect Green Belt land.

The Government is currently proposing to increase the home-building target for Hertfordshire from 2,546 per year to 3,290, and is likely to reach a decision in the Autumn.

Richard Grove, the council's principal planning officer, said: 'Woodcock Hill is safe in the Green Belt for the time being, but if we have to find a lot more land for housing we will have to consider the options again.'

During Tuesday's meeting, to determine the council's response to the inspector's recommendations for the Local Plan, concern was also raised about a lack of new housing for people on low incomes.

Councillor Frank Ward said: 'There are 1,600 people on the housing waiting list in the borough and I cannot understand how we can sit here and talk about building 45 affordable homes per year in Hertsmere,' he said.

The county council this week asked the Government to change regulations which only allow councils to negotiate the building of affordable homes on large-scale developments, and to provide extra cash for new affordable homes.

Public consultation on the version of the Local Plan accepted by councillors on Tuesday will take place over six weeks during September, at which point any challenges to the document can be made.