Hertsmere Borough Council (HBC) has announced a public inquiry is to be held into plans for nearly 200 homes on Radlett green belt land.
The initial application was made in September last year, proposing 195 new homes in Shenley Hill, 40 per cent of which would be affordable housing, as well as the expansion of Newberries Primary School and a new medical centre.
However, the application was met with concern and objections from residents, charities, and businesses.
HBC previously rejected the application, and is now asking to hear from the public directly.
A spokesperson for Save Hertsmere spoke to Radlett News and said: “This application for Shenley Hill builds houses that cannot be described as affordable on green belt, and does not provide the required infrastructure, particularly for the hundreds of extra cars on the narrow and already busy road between Radlett and Shenley. This application was rightly rejected by Hertsmere, and this rejection should not be overturned on appeal.”
Councillor Helen Jones, chair of Aldenham Parish Council (APC), said: “We have objected to the Shenley Hill proposal from day one and were pleased when HBC refused planning permission.
“When the appeal by the developer was announced, the council took the decision to apply for Rule 6 status, which means we are allowed to make our case on behalf of the residents of Radlett as to why we object to this proposal. To support this, we have engaged a legal team as well as an expert witness, who prepared our Planning Statement of Case.”
A meeting was held at the Radlett Centre on Wednesday, July 5, to update the public and allow them a chance to ask questions to APC’s legal team and inform them of how to contribute to the inquiry. Both Save Hertsmere and the Radlett Society and Greenbelt Association also joined.
In a statement, APC said: “Having been granted Rule 6 status at the inquiry, our professional expert has been preparing the Statement of Case along with the solicitor and barrister who are acting on behalf of APC. We are pleased to have retained the services of the team who were successful in stopping the Harris Lane housing development in Shenley, which was also proposed to be built on green belt land.
“APC recognises there will be a cost to do this, but feels that protecting our Green Belt is worth it.”
The inquiry opens on Tuesday August, 22, at 10am at the Civic Offices, Elstree Way, Borehamwood, WD6 1WA. It will continue from 10am from August 23 to 25, and August 30 and 31.
Developers Boyer Planning have been contacted for comment.
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