In the June issue, I wrote that the threat of development on green belt land in and around Kings Langley had not gone away.
Our fears for at least one site, Rectory Farm, have now been confirmed.
A meeting organised by borough councillors, Alan Anderson and Bob McLean was held at the Kings Langley Community Centre on June 14 for residents who live around Rectory Farm.
Attendees were presented with the outline plans the developer, Angle Property, has for the site: a two-phase development of initially 50 houses on predominantly the brownfield element where there are farm buildings and a further development wholly on the green belt part of the site, of a further 75 houses.
This also includes an additional access road onto the Hempstead Road.
Thirty-five per cent of the houses are intended to be affordable and some of the remaining green belt land will be given over for community use/public green space.
It was extremely disappointing to hear that the loss of green belt land at Rectory Farm may be inevitable in Dacorum’s view, particularly given the implications for the other three green belt sites in the village.
There was a reminder from those present that 800 people attended a parish meeting to oppose green belt development, that 99 per cent of those who participated in the Parish Poll voted against any green belt development and that 2,700 villagers signed manuscript and online petitions against such development.
In other words, the fight against green belt development has only just begun and villagers, the parish council and the residents’ association will fight such proposals every step of the way.
It is worth noting that for any housing development on the green belt, Dacorum Borough Council (DBC) would need to formally remove this land from the green belt which can only be done as part of the development of the Local Plan.
The next stage of the Local Plan should be made public shortly.
The government is also expected to release the revised National Planning Policy Framework which sets out planning policies for England.
Once this information is available, the housing requirements DBC has to meet and how green belt land may be treated will be clearer.
Of course, where Dacorum propose to build new houses is their decision.
Nevertheless, as a village, we need to protect our green belt and ensure we oppose any development that threatens the character and village status of Kings Langley.
More information can be found at www.greenbeltmatters.com
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