Plans for up to 46 homes in a field in Shenley are being met with resistance from locals.
Concerns have been raised about development in the green belt and extra traffic after a proposal for new homes in Harris Lane was unveiled.
Housebuilder Griggs Homes wants to redevelop land opposite Harris Lane playing fields and has submitted a planning application to Hertsmere Borough Council.
Documents state Griggs would like to build up to 46 houses – of which the housebuilder says 40 per cent (18 homes) would be designated as affordable.
As the application is only “outline” at this stage, details on the proposal are relatively small at the moment. Griggs is hoping to secure permission for the principle of development with a more detailed planning application required at a later stage.
The plans have drawn 70 objections so far in the council’s planning portal and a poster by community action group ‘Save Our Shenley’ has called on locals to “act now” to protect “peaceful and rural” Harris Lane.
The group talks about a “1,050%” increase in traffic and have led with the slogan ‘hands off our green belt’.
It added: “Harris Lane is a valuable community asset, with significant amenity value. This development would spoil the rural edge of the village and give a green light to other sustainable developments on the green belt in Shenley parish.”
Read more: Housebuilder unveils plans to build 177 homes in Shenley
Save Our Shenley also cited the Shenley Neighbourhood Plan, which found 96 per cent of residents who responded want Shenley Parish Council to protect the green belt, the village’s “rural feel”, and its open spaces and countryside.
In chalk, people have also written ‘protect the green belt’ on a verge in front of a gate that leads into the field that Griggs wants to build on.
Griggs declined to respond to the concerns raised about its proposal but it has argued in its planning statement that its scheme delivers “extensive” benefits, including delivering “much needed” affordable and market housing.
The planning application can be viewed on the council’s planning portal via reference 22/0971/OUT.
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