This video shows exactly how "overpowering" homes made out of steel could look like if proposals go ahead, campaigners say.

People paid a visit to Ealing, West London, as Hertsmere Borough Council decide whether to erect "shipping containers" in Crown Road, Borehamwood.

The 28 "modular" homes would be available to people looking for accommodation in Borehamwood.

But the proposal has resulted in a protest by residents who believe the plans are “wrong” with potential for “negative, lasting impact”.

Lisa Hunter travelled to Ealing with fellow campaigners Kristine Wilson and Tracy Hoy, where similar designs were erected last year. 

Borehamwood Times:

The view from Janis Hawkins back garden in Ealing

Ms Hunter said she couldn’t believe how “overpowering” the homes were and was shocked that people who were living in the homes were able to see so easily into existing houses.

“We met a lovely lady there who invited us down. But she told us some awful stories. The site has led to fights, to pebbles being thrown, and fly tipping.

“The whole area looked scruffy. We asked the people living in these homes if they knew how long they were there for and they didn’t have an answer.”

Video: Lisa Hunter, in Ealing

Objectors to the Borehamwood plans stress that they recognise the need to provide housing for the vulnerable in the borough but have a number of concerns which make the development “unsuitable” for the area or the people.

Campaign group, Borehamwood Under Threat (BUT), have worries over space for parking, privacy, and potential for anti-social behaviour, while they believe the homes will have “serious, negative and lasting impacts on the residents of surrounding properties, and does not represent a long term, sustainable housing solution for its intended occupants”.

They also point to a previous application for the site that was rejected back in 2003 by the council on grounds the scheme was “out of keeping with the area” and “give loss of privacy”.

Borehamwood Times:

Protesters back in November

On January 18, BUT members met councillors John Graham, Jean Heywood, and Harvey Cohen. Grant Kramer, from BUT, said that the council confirmed in the meeting that the homes would relocate people back to Hertsmere rather than house those sleeping rough.

However, the council are still unable to confirm how long people will stay at these homes if the green light is given for them to be built.

Council leader Morris Bright visited a modular home site in Reading on Tuesday.

He said: “It was a chance to see first-hand the type of modular housing we are considering, built and in situ.

“The piece of land we saw is not dissimilar in size to the one being suggested at Crown Road and following the meeting I chaired with Crown Road residents last week I was able to ask questions and seek reassurances relating to concerns that had been raised – such as distance to existing homes, windows overlooking, noise and so on.

Borehamwood Times:

Morris Bright in Reading on Tuesday

“I felt that if we could replicate Reading’s excellent efforts in Hertsmere, than we could indeed bring back local families back from bed and breakfasts outside of the area, back to their own towns, in clean and pleasant temporary accommodation while more permanent housing is found for them and their children.”

Cllr Heywood says that the Ealing site does not represent Hertsmere's plans in any way.

You can find the planning application here