Plans have been put forward for a new development on Bushey Hall Golf Club.
Griggs Homes hope to build 350 homes on the site of the golf club, which closed in 2019, with 70 per cent of these being affordable.
However, Bushey Lib Dem councillors are opposing the scheme and say that the “precious” green belt must be protected.
In a joint statement, councillors Lousie Nicolas and Miles Ponder said: “We support new homes on appropriate sites, but these plans would severely harm Bushey’s ecology and semi-rural character.
“These are crucial sites we’ve fought for years to save – and helped exclude from the council’s own development plan.”
Griggs have reflected on comments submitted in a consultation session and have since made changes. The number of homes has been reduced from 400 to 350, and the developer has assured residents that 72 per cent of the site will stay green, giving residents more access to the former golf course.
Significant parkland and open space will be available for public use. This will include enhanced pedestrian and cycle connectivity through the site.
Oliver Myrants-Wilson, land and planning director at Griggs Homes, said: “Before submitting our planning application, we engaged with the local community through a public consultation.
“We listened intently to the feedback. As a direct result, we removed the school from the plan and reduced the number of homes from 400 to 350.
“But perhaps most critically, we retained the landmark provision of 70 per cent affordable housing. This will provide a lifeline to those who are most in need of a place to call home.
“Importantly, people should understand that while the site is currently private land, our proposals commit to transforming 72 per cent of it into public open space.”
This is green belt land If we continue to build on land that was deliberately put aside it won’t be long before there is nothing left Do we really want to go down the same road as countries like Brazil who are destroying the rainforests
I realise that people need places to live but when we build what the developers say they are going to build and what we end up with are too different things and most of these developments are as many rabbit hutches as they can get away with
A second golf course in Bushey has been earmarked!!