When councillors rejected a plan for 195 new homes and saw an appeal dismissed by the High Court, they may have thought it was the end of the issue.
But developers have now made a third attempt to build on Hertfordshire green belt using Labour’s ‘grey belt’ policy.
After their first planning application in the town of Radlett was rejected two years ago, developers Fairfax Properties submitted new, largely similar plans to Hertsmere Council which claimed the land was grey belt.
Brett Rosehill, a Radlett councillor, said the policy gave Fairfax ‘another shot at the green belt’.
Brought in by former housing secretary Angela Rayner, the grey belt is previously developed land which does not contribute to the key aims of the green belt.
These include preventing towns sprawling and merging into each other.
Labour previously described grey belt as ‘poor quality’ and ‘ugly’ areas.
But Cllr Rosehill said his borough was now impacted by ‘an influx of speculative applications’.
After their first planning application in the town of Radlett was rejected two years ago, developers Fairfax Properties submitted new, largely similar plans to Hertsmere Council which claimed the land was grey belt (Pictured: Proposed development site)
Lucy Selby, Radlett’s other councillor, said the legal officer’s speech was ‘uncomfortable’ and she felt members were being ‘led in a certain direction’ (Pictured: Cllr 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 £1.25million according to Jonathan Kushner from Susman Estates.
Mr Kushner said an average three or four bedroom family home could fetch around £1million.
Fairfax’s plan included almost 100 ‘affordable’ homes, which include homes sold at 20% below market rate.
Alongside affordability, residents complained about the potential for Radlett to merge with neighbouring Borehamwood as the development would leave the two towns just half a mile apart.
Fairfax had also reserved an area of the development for a new medical centre, but the town’s Red House surgery said it would not take up the offer.
Alison Rubinson, a Radlett resident for 37 years, said: ‘Getting doctors appointments is a nightmare anyway.
‘If there are 200 houses some of them will have two or four people so you are looking at 600 to 800 people. That is a big addition.’
Radlett’s population is currently around 10,000.
Mrs Rubinson said residents were also concerned about the ‘dangerous’ road outside the planned development, which she said was narrow and busy even now.
Mrs Rubinson said residents were also concerned about the ‘dangerous’ road outside the planned development, which she said was narrow and busy even now
Lucy Selby, Radlett’s other councillor, said the legal officer’s speech was ‘uncomfortable’ and she felt members were being ‘led in a certain direction’ (Pictured: Proposed development site)
Members clashed with Hertsmere Council officers over these issues at last month’s third session to consider Fairfax’s plans.
Before a 7-6 vote to reject the application the council’s legal officer gave a speech which lasted more than five minutes explaining the potential consequences.
These included costs being awarded to Fairfax if the decision were successfully appealed.
Cllr Rosehill said the legal officer was ‘incredibly patronising’ and that it felt as though officers were ‘dictating to’ councillors.
He said councillors were the ‘last line of defence’ for the green belt.
Lucy Selby, Radlett’s other councillor, said the legal officer’s speech was ‘uncomfortable’ and she felt members were being ‘led in a certain direction’.
Fairfax said it was disappointed the application was refused.
A spokesperson added: ‘The refusal appears to rest solely on the fact that some committee members disagreed with the site’s designation as grey belt under the current National Planning Policy Framework.
‘This is despite the presentation of multiple legal opinions from some of the country’s most respected planning barristers, as well as the council’s own legal experts, all of whom confirmed unequivocally that the site is correctly designated as grey belt.’
It said the area was in need of affordable housing and its ‘only option’ was to appeal the decision which could mean ‘unnecessary costs to the taxpayer’.
Hertsmere Council said: ‘The planning committee considered the proposal and, having taken all relevant factors into account, resolved to refuse the application.’
