April 2023
Elstree Aerodrome have submitted plans for a second entrance across green belt land.
Update: the plans were refused as not needed, there is sufficient access for safety vehicles already, a ploy to open up the possibility of development at a later stage Green Belt no very special circumstances.
January 2022: Plans to build additional access across green belt land
Planning application 22/2127/FUL
See below the letter sent to HBC on 15th January 2023 on behalf of EBGBS. Members are also encouraged to submit their own objections via the Hertsmere Borough Council Planning Portal here Search and Comment on Planning Applications.
22/2127/FUL | New internal access road connecting to permitted highway access off Aldenham Road. | Elstree Aerodrome Hogg Lane Elstree B/wood Hertfordshire WD6 3AW
Dear Karen Humphries
I am writing on behalf of the Elstree and Borehamwood Green Belt Society, in respect of this application to build a new internal access road across Elstree Aerodrome to which we object. As it is located in the Green Belt, it requires Very Special Circumstances to be demonstrated for this to be approved.
In this we are in agreement with Radlett Society and Green Belt Association and make the same objections.
A previous application 22/0225/FUL made in 2022 was approved by officers (But this related only to the access from Aldenham Road and a short stretch of road into the field. This new application relates to the addition of a roadway extending across the field and into the airfield.
An earlier application in 2020 application relating to the same access road made clear that it that it would be to serve future developments on land within the Aerodrome. That application was called in to the Planning Committee but was withdrawn before it was decided. However, the 2022 application did not make any reference to serving development to the north of the runway. It was justified on the need to provide improved access for large emergency vehicles such as the Fire Service. This latest 2023 application also relies on that, and again doesn't mention development to the north of the runway.
The Aerodrome has Permitted Development Rights over its operational land, which means it is free to develop it for airport purposes and the planning authority has no control over that development. The airport has a lot of undeveloped land on the north side of the runway but it is currently constrained from developing it because at present the only access to that area is by crossing the runway, which is not practical for any but occasional traffic. What this application would do, if granted, is provide an easy access to that area direct from Aldenham Road. As you will appreciate this opens up the possibility of massive and uncontrolled expansion of the airport.
The developer needs to show Very Special Circumstances to justify what would be inappropriate development on Green Belt, hence the reliance on the improved emergency access argument.
But we do not believe the argument that this is needed for improving emergency access stands up:
a) Hertfordshire County Council has confirmed that in the 8 year period from 2015 to 2022 inclusive there were only 4 visits to the airport by Herts Fire & Rescue vehicles. Building a new road across the Green Belt is a totally disproportionate response to so infrequent an issue;
b) the developer's arguments that access (as currently obtained via Hogg Lane) is difficult are vastly overstated. The Aerodrome has been operating for over 70 years and Hogg Lane is used regularly and without difficulty by large vehicles;
c) improved emergency access could be perfectly well provided within the envelope of the airport proper by constructing a better roadway from the existing emergency entrance just south of the Battleaxes - the developer doesn't seem to have explored this possibility sufficiently.
The developer also mentions routine maintenance of the land north of the runway - but this is currently done by vehicles driving across the runway which presents no difficulty and would continue to be the quickest and easiest, and hence most used, access even if the new road is constructed.
We can only conclude one that the real reason the developer wants this road is to provide access to future development on the land to the North of the runway. But enabling a developer more easily to develop his land certainly does not amount to Very Special Circumstances.
In summary, Very Special Circumstances cannot be demonstrated to justify this application which is for inappropriate development on Green Belt land. If this application is granted the way is opened for significant expansion of the airport over which the planning authority would have no control, hence our need to object.
Yours sincerely,
Pat Strack
Membership Secretary EBGBS
cc
Cllr David Lambert Cllr Caroline Clapper Cllr Harvey Cohen Cllr Morris Bright
Oliver Dowden
RSGBA
EBTC
EVPS
CPRE
Aldenham Parish Council
Save Hertsmere Green Belt
22/2127/FUL | New internal access road connecting to permitted highway access off Aldenham Road. | Elstree Aerodrome Hogg Lane Elstree B/wood Hertfordshire WD6 3AW
Dear Karen Humphries
I am writing on behalf of the Elstree and Borehamwood Green Belt Society, in respect of this application to build a new internal access road across Elstree Aerodrome to which we object. As it is located in the Green Belt, it requires Very Special Circumstances to be demonstrated for this to be approved.
In this we are in agreement with Radlett Society and Green Belt Association and make the same objections.
A previous application 22/0225/FUL made in 2022 was approved by officers (But this related only to the access from Aldenham Road and a short stretch of road into the field. This new application relates to the addition of a roadway extending across the field and into the airfield.
An earlier application in 2020 application relating to the same access road made clear that it that it would be to serve future developments on land within the Aerodrome. That application was called in to the Planning Committee but was withdrawn before it was decided. However, the 2022 application did not make any reference to serving development to the north of the runway. It was justified on the need to provide improved access for large emergency vehicles such as the Fire Service. This latest 2023 application also relies on that, and again doesn't mention development to the north of the runway.
The Aerodrome has Permitted Development Rights over its operational land, which means it is free to develop it for airport purposes and the planning authority has no control over that development. The airport has a lot of undeveloped land on the north side of the runway but it is currently constrained from developing it because at present the only access to that area is by crossing the runway, which is not practical for any but occasional traffic. What this application would do, if granted, is provide an easy access to that area direct from Aldenham Road. As you will appreciate this opens up the possibility of massive and uncontrolled expansion of the airport.
The developer needs to show Very Special Circumstances to justify what would be inappropriate development on Green Belt, hence the reliance on the improved emergency access argument.
But we do not believe the argument that this is needed for improving emergency access stands up:
a) Hertfordshire County Council has confirmed that in the 8 year period from 2015 to 2022 inclusive there were only 4 visits to the airport by Herts Fire & Rescue vehicles. Building a new road across the Green Belt is a totally disproportionate response to so infrequent an issue;
b) the developer's arguments that access (as currently obtained via Hogg Lane) is difficult are vastly overstated. The Aerodrome has been operating for over 70 years and Hogg Lane is used regularly and without difficulty by large vehicles;
c) improved emergency access could be perfectly well provided within the envelope of the airport proper by constructing a better roadway from the existing emergency entrance just south of the Battleaxes - the developer doesn't seem to have explored this possibility sufficiently.
The developer also mentions routine maintenance of the land north of the runway - but this is currently done by vehicles driving across the runway which presents no difficulty and would continue to be the quickest and easiest, and hence most used, access even if the new road is constructed.
We can only conclude one that the real reason the developer wants this road is to provide access to future development on the land to the North of the runway. But enabling a developer more easily to develop his land certainly does not amount to Very Special Circumstances.
In summary, Very Special Circumstances cannot be demonstrated to justify this application which is for inappropriate development on Green Belt land. If this application is granted the way is opened for significant expansion of the airport over which the planning authority would have no control, hence our need to object.
Yours sincerely,
Pat Strack
Membership Secretary EBGBS
cc
Cllr David Lambert Cllr Caroline Clapper Cllr Harvey Cohen Cllr Morris Bright
Oliver Dowden
RSGBA
EBTC
EVPS
CPRE
Aldenham Parish Council
Save Hertsmere Green Belt