Fury over plans to build 195 new homes on green belt land in affluent commuter town using Labour policy
When councilors rejected plans for 195 new homes and saw the appeal rejected by the High Court, they may have thought that was the end of the matter.
But developers have now made a third attempt to develop Hertfordshire’s green belt using Labour’s ‘grey belt’ policy.
After the first planning applications in Radlett town were rejected two years ago, developers Fairfax Properties have submitted new and largely similar plans to Hertsmere Council, claiming the land is grey-belt.
Radlett councilor Brett Rosehill said the policy gave Fairfax ‘another chance at the green belt’.
Gray belt, introduced by former housing minister Angela Rayner, is land that has already been developed and does not contribute to the key aims of the green belt.
These include preventing the spread and mixing of towns.
Labor has previously described the gray belt as ‘low quality’ and ‘ugly’ areas.
But Major Rosehill said his district was now affected by a ‘influx of speculative applications’.
After initial planning applications in the town of Radlett were rejected two years ago, developers Fairfax Properties have submitted new, largely similar plans to Hertsmere Council claiming the land is grey-belt (Image: Proposed development site)
Fellow Radlett councilor Lucy Selby said the law officer’s speech was ‘disturbing’ and she felt members were ‘being led in a particular direction’ (Image: Major Lucy Selby and Hertsmere MP Sir Oliver Dowden)
He said Radlett, an ‘unaffordable’ town, needed housing but it had to be in the right places.
The average house price in Radlett is around £1.25 million, according to Jonathan Kushner of Susman Estates.
Mr Kushner said an average three- or four-bedroom family home could fetch around £1 million.
Fairfax’s scheme included almost 100 ‘affordable’ homes, including homes sold 20% below market price.
Aside from affordability, residents complained about the potential for Radlett to merge with neighboring Borehamwood, as this development would leave the two towns only half a mile apart.
Fairfax had also earmarked a site from the development for a new medical centre, but the town’s Red House practice said it would not accept the offer.
Alison Rubinson, who has lived in Radlett for 37 years, said: ‘Making a doctor’s appointment is already a nightmare.
‘If there are 200 houses some will have two or four people, so you’re looking at 600 to 800 people. “This is a great contribution.”
The population of Radlett is currently around 10,000.
Ms Rubinson said residents were also concerned about the ‘dangerous’ road outside the planned development, which even now remained narrow and busy.
Ms Rubinson said residents were also concerned about the ‘dangerous’ road outside the planned development, which even now remained narrow and busy.
Fellow Radlett councilor Lucy Selby said the law officer’s speech was ‘disturbing’ and she felt members were ‘being led in a particular direction’ (Image: Proposed development area)
Members clashed with Hertsmere Council officials over these issues at the third session last month to consider Fairfax’s plans.
Before the 7-6 vote to deny the application, the council’s legal officer gave a speech lasting more than five minutes explaining the implications.
These include costs to Fairfax if the decision is successfully appealed.
Major Rosehill said the law officer ‘acted incredibly arrogant’ and felt as if the officers were ‘dictating’ to councillors.
He said councilors were the ‘last line of defence’ for the green belt.
Fellow Radlett councilor Lucy Selby said the law officer’s speech was ‘disturbing’ and she felt members were ‘being led in a certain direction’.
Fairfax said it was disappointed the application was rejected.
A spokesman added: ‘The refusal appears to be based solely on some committee members disagreeing with the designation of the area as gray belt under the current National Planning Policy Framework.
‘This was despite the submission of numerous legal opinions from some of the country’s most respected planning lawyers as well as the council’s own legal experts; All of these conclusively confirmed that the site had been correctly designated as greybelt.’
He said the area needed affordable housing and his ‘only option’ was to appeal the decision, which could mean ‘unnecessary cost to taxpayers’.
Hertsmere Council said: ‘The planning committee considered the proposal and, having taken into account all relevant factors, decided to refuse the application.’
