The chairman of the Kings Langley & District Residents’ Association (KL&DRA) has called out landowners and developers for submitting what he perceives to be exploitative planning applications.
Gary Ansell told KINGSnews that he believes there is a “continuing trend by landowners and developers to exploit delays in our council’s Local Plans by submitting planning applications for large scale developments on our green belt sites”.
He explained: “It would seem planning inspectors are approving such plans even when local councils object.
“At Colney Heath, the inspector allowed the developer’s appeal to build 100 dwellings in the green belt primarily due to the lack of a five-year housing supply (not enough sites ready for development to meet the council’s housing need for the next five years).
“Another developer has submitted plans for a development filling the ‘gap’ between Tring Town and Tring Railway Station, comprising 1,400 dwellings plus a sports centre, a primary school and a secondary school, all on green belt land.
“It has no local support and will not get Dacorum Borough Council’s approval; however, the planning inspector may have other ideas in the absence of a five-year housing supply.
“The KL&DRA expect similar development applications will be made in Kings Langley which may well offer apparent inducements such as land for the community, but this will in no way compensate for the impact that hundreds of new dwellings will have on our village.
“We will remain vigilant and continue to make residents aware of such applications and provide guidance on how to oppose every development on our precious green belt and thereby keep our village a village.”
Regarding the comments made by Mr Ansell about the Tring proposals, a spokesperson for DBC said: “We understand that the developer is working up proposals for the site, but a formal planning application has yet to be submitted.
“If an application is submitted, we will consult with the public and will take into account all material planning considerations raised before determining the application including the status of the site as currently within the green belt.”
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