Objections to HEL 197 Land north of Barnet Lane (West) in Hertsmere Local Plan
1. Green Belt objection:
• Loss of Green Belt without Very Special Circumstances
2. Environmental objections:
• Destruction of wildlife habitat
• Trees which now shield the Village Green from traffic on Barnet Lane would be at risk of felling and there would be further loss of defence against climate change and global warming.
• More unhealthy air and noise pollution from the extra cars, vans etc.
3. Historic importance objections:
• Alteration of the character of the area in the vicinity of the historic Beacon and Optical Telegraph site.
4. Traffic related objections:
• The roads serving the area are narrow two-lane constructions, Hartfield Avenue is a narrow road and Barnet Lane itself is medieval or earlier.
• A resident of Hartfield Avenue requires disabled vehicle access at all times, which must not be compromised by works traffic.
• Traffic congestion already clogs Barnet Lane, Allum Lane and Deacons Hill Road twice daily and 76 more houses will add to this current gridlock.
• Exacerbates traffic problems from Barnet Lane to Furzehill Rd, Barnet Lane to Elstree Crossroads and Deacons Hill Road to Allum Lane.
• Access onto Deacons Hill or Barnet Lane will be dangerous.
• The traffic survey being used by the developers is unrepresentative as it was taken during the pandemic. A survey of the current traffic is required.
• misery of construction traffic.
5. Infrastucture related objections
• Local infrastructure is overburdened especially in the Health Services.
• Distance form Station, buses, schools GO practices, shopping and leisure need cars.
• Cycles will not help. No room for cycle lanes on Barnet Lane DHR nor Allum Lane. Cycles slow traffic and stationary cars cause more particular emissions.
6. Local housing objections:
• Homes will not be affordable and for local people.
• Will not address local housing need
• Need up to date Housing needs figures, not 2014 figures, pre-BREXIT and pre COVID19.
• Loss of Green Belt without Very Special Circumstances
2. Environmental objections:
• Destruction of wildlife habitat
• Trees which now shield the Village Green from traffic on Barnet Lane would be at risk of felling and there would be further loss of defence against climate change and global warming.
• More unhealthy air and noise pollution from the extra cars, vans etc.
3. Historic importance objections:
• Alteration of the character of the area in the vicinity of the historic Beacon and Optical Telegraph site.
4. Traffic related objections:
• The roads serving the area are narrow two-lane constructions, Hartfield Avenue is a narrow road and Barnet Lane itself is medieval or earlier.
• A resident of Hartfield Avenue requires disabled vehicle access at all times, which must not be compromised by works traffic.
• Traffic congestion already clogs Barnet Lane, Allum Lane and Deacons Hill Road twice daily and 76 more houses will add to this current gridlock.
• Exacerbates traffic problems from Barnet Lane to Furzehill Rd, Barnet Lane to Elstree Crossroads and Deacons Hill Road to Allum Lane.
• Access onto Deacons Hill or Barnet Lane will be dangerous.
• The traffic survey being used by the developers is unrepresentative as it was taken during the pandemic. A survey of the current traffic is required.
• misery of construction traffic.
5. Infrastucture related objections
• Local infrastructure is overburdened especially in the Health Services.
• Distance form Station, buses, schools GO practices, shopping and leisure need cars.
• Cycles will not help. No room for cycle lanes on Barnet Lane DHR nor Allum Lane. Cycles slow traffic and stationary cars cause more particular emissions.
6. Local housing objections:
• Homes will not be affordable and for local people.
• Will not address local housing need
• Need up to date Housing needs figures, not 2014 figures, pre-BREXIT and pre COVID19.
Permission Refused at Planning Meeting: 21st April 2023
After consideration of all the relevant issues the Council decision was “Refuse Permission” on 21 April 2023.
was This is an excellent result, but could be appealed.
Click here for full a copy of the letter sent out regarding this decision.
was This is an excellent result, but could be appealed.
Click here for full a copy of the letter sent out regarding this decision.
Hartfield Avenue Planned Development 23/0053/OUT
HBC PLANNING APPLICATION DETAILS
Land Lying To The East Of Hartfield Avenue And Fronting Onto Barnet Lane Elstree Hertfordshire
Proposal: Residential development of up to 76 dwellings, with associated landscaping, amenity space, Self-Build plots, sustainable urban drainage (SuDs), and associated works. (Outline Application to include Access, with all other matters Reserved)
Determination Deadline: Wed 12 Apr 2023
PLANS, CONSULTATIONS AND REASONS FOR OBJECTING
Residents have been consulted on the application for a period of 21 days which is the statutory consultation period used for all planning applications - this ends on 7th February. A press notice will also be published in the local newspaper (Thursday 26th) and site notices will be erected this week, which will provide an additional 21 days from publication for comments to be submitted. We go by the last of the three dates where they are different. In any case we accept comments beyond the consultation expiry date anyway.
The application is an outline application with all matters reserved apart from access. In short, this means that the Applicant is seeking permission for the principle of development on the site, with detailed information provided regarding access to the site and details relating to the layout, appearance, scale and landscaping reserved until a later date.
From Ross Whear, Head of Planning, HBC 23/01/23
OBJECT TO THIS PLANNING APPLICATION
Reasons to object:
1. Green Belt objection:
• Loss of Green Belt without Very Special Circumstances
2. Environmental objections:
• Destruction of wildlife habitat
• Trees which now shield the Village Green from traffic on Barnet Lane would be at risk of felling and there would be further loss of defence against climate change and global warming.
• More unhealthy air and noise pollution from the extra cars, vans etc.
3. Historic importance objections:
• Alteration of the character of the area in the vicinity of the historic Beacon and Optical Telegraph site.
4. Traffic related objections:
• The roads serving the area are narrow two-lane constructions, Hartfield Avenue is a narrow road and Barnet Lane itself is medieval or earlier.
• A resident of Hartfield Avenue requires disabled vehicle access at all times, which must not be compromised by works traffic.
• Traffic congestion already clogs Barnet Lane, Allum Lane and Deacons Hill Road twice daily and 76 more houses will add to this current gridlock.
• Exacerbates traffic problems from Barnet Lane to Furzehill Rd, Barnet Lane to Elstree Crossroads and Deacons Hill Road to Allum Lane.
• Access onto Deacons Hill or Barnet Lane will be dangerous.
• The traffic survey being used by the developers is unrepresentative as it was taken during the pandemic. A survey of the current traffic is required.
• misery of construction traffic.
5. Infrastucture related objections
• Local infrastructure is overburdened especially in the Health Services.
• Distance form Station, buses, schools GO practices, shopping and leisure need cars.
• Cycles will not help. No room for cycle lanes on Barnet Lane DHR nor Allum Lane. Cycles slow traffic and stationary cars cause more particular emissions.
6. Local housing objections:
• Homes will not be affordable and for local people.
• Will not address local housing need
• Need up to date Housing needs figures, not 2014 figures, pre-BREXIT and pre COVID19.
Land Lying To The East Of Hartfield Avenue And Fronting Onto Barnet Lane Elstree Hertfordshire
Proposal: Residential development of up to 76 dwellings, with associated landscaping, amenity space, Self-Build plots, sustainable urban drainage (SuDs), and associated works. (Outline Application to include Access, with all other matters Reserved)
Determination Deadline: Wed 12 Apr 2023
PLANS, CONSULTATIONS AND REASONS FOR OBJECTING
Residents have been consulted on the application for a period of 21 days which is the statutory consultation period used for all planning applications - this ends on 7th February. A press notice will also be published in the local newspaper (Thursday 26th) and site notices will be erected this week, which will provide an additional 21 days from publication for comments to be submitted. We go by the last of the three dates where they are different. In any case we accept comments beyond the consultation expiry date anyway.
The application is an outline application with all matters reserved apart from access. In short, this means that the Applicant is seeking permission for the principle of development on the site, with detailed information provided regarding access to the site and details relating to the layout, appearance, scale and landscaping reserved until a later date.
From Ross Whear, Head of Planning, HBC 23/01/23
OBJECT TO THIS PLANNING APPLICATION
Reasons to object:
1. Green Belt objection:
• Loss of Green Belt without Very Special Circumstances
2. Environmental objections:
• Destruction of wildlife habitat
• Trees which now shield the Village Green from traffic on Barnet Lane would be at risk of felling and there would be further loss of defence against climate change and global warming.
• More unhealthy air and noise pollution from the extra cars, vans etc.
3. Historic importance objections:
• Alteration of the character of the area in the vicinity of the historic Beacon and Optical Telegraph site.
4. Traffic related objections:
• The roads serving the area are narrow two-lane constructions, Hartfield Avenue is a narrow road and Barnet Lane itself is medieval or earlier.
• A resident of Hartfield Avenue requires disabled vehicle access at all times, which must not be compromised by works traffic.
• Traffic congestion already clogs Barnet Lane, Allum Lane and Deacons Hill Road twice daily and 76 more houses will add to this current gridlock.
• Exacerbates traffic problems from Barnet Lane to Furzehill Rd, Barnet Lane to Elstree Crossroads and Deacons Hill Road to Allum Lane.
• Access onto Deacons Hill or Barnet Lane will be dangerous.
• The traffic survey being used by the developers is unrepresentative as it was taken during the pandemic. A survey of the current traffic is required.
• misery of construction traffic.
5. Infrastucture related objections
• Local infrastructure is overburdened especially in the Health Services.
• Distance form Station, buses, schools GO practices, shopping and leisure need cars.
• Cycles will not help. No room for cycle lanes on Barnet Lane DHR nor Allum Lane. Cycles slow traffic and stationary cars cause more particular emissions.
6. Local housing objections:
• Homes will not be affordable and for local people.
• Will not address local housing need
• Need up to date Housing needs figures, not 2014 figures, pre-BREXIT and pre COVID19.
January 2023 - News Article from Watford Observer
Plans for 76 homes in green belt off Barnet Lane, Elstree
20th January
By Will Durrant
20th January
By Will Durrant
A property developer wants permission to build up to 76 homes near land set aside for wildlife.
Property firm Inland Strategic Revenue Limited has asked Hertsmere Borough Council to agree in principle to its proposals for houses on green belt land.
The new builds would comprise a mix of one, two, three and four-bedroom homes directly to the north of the A411 Barnet Lane in Elstree, with access to the development from Hartfield Avenue.
The developer claims there are “very special circumstances” for building on the green belt, because the council can only demonstrate a 2.25-year supply of land for new housing.
Without a Hertsmere blueprint setting out how the authority can meet its five-year target, national rules mean decision-makers could grant planning permission.
“Hertsmere is undoubtedly required to release green belt land in order to address its housing needs,” a developer statement reads.
Watford Observer: Proposals have been launched for 76 new homes in Elstree.
Proposals have been launched for 76 new homes in Elstree. (Image: Thrive/ Hertsmere Borough Council)
“The application proposals will result in adverse impact upon the openness of the green belt, although such impacts are limited to a site level and tempered by the lack of visual permeability of the site.”
The developer claims its scheme would be “landscape-led” with areas of new planting, street trees and a “wet area” or pond, as well as proposals for a play area.
Under current plans, 45 per cent of the homes are intended to be “affordable”.
Part of the development area is a “Local Wildlife Site”, according to the Hertsmere 2012-2027 housing blueprint.
Inland Strategic Revenue’s planning statement reads: “The proposals enable the local wildlife site in the north-east corner to be protected from trampling, allowing for maximum biodiversity benefits to be achieved.”
It adds: “The architectural details and materials palette will take inspiration from the site’s local context.”
Hertsmere Borough Council received the planning application on Wednesday, January 11.
A decision is expected by April 12, 2023.
Property firm Inland Strategic Revenue Limited has asked Hertsmere Borough Council to agree in principle to its proposals for houses on green belt land.
The new builds would comprise a mix of one, two, three and four-bedroom homes directly to the north of the A411 Barnet Lane in Elstree, with access to the development from Hartfield Avenue.
The developer claims there are “very special circumstances” for building on the green belt, because the council can only demonstrate a 2.25-year supply of land for new housing.
Without a Hertsmere blueprint setting out how the authority can meet its five-year target, national rules mean decision-makers could grant planning permission.
“Hertsmere is undoubtedly required to release green belt land in order to address its housing needs,” a developer statement reads.
Watford Observer: Proposals have been launched for 76 new homes in Elstree.
Proposals have been launched for 76 new homes in Elstree. (Image: Thrive/ Hertsmere Borough Council)
“The application proposals will result in adverse impact upon the openness of the green belt, although such impacts are limited to a site level and tempered by the lack of visual permeability of the site.”
The developer claims its scheme would be “landscape-led” with areas of new planting, street trees and a “wet area” or pond, as well as proposals for a play area.
Under current plans, 45 per cent of the homes are intended to be “affordable”.
Part of the development area is a “Local Wildlife Site”, according to the Hertsmere 2012-2027 housing blueprint.
Inland Strategic Revenue’s planning statement reads: “The proposals enable the local wildlife site in the north-east corner to be protected from trampling, allowing for maximum biodiversity benefits to be achieved.”
It adds: “The architectural details and materials palette will take inspiration from the site’s local context.”
Hertsmere Borough Council received the planning application on Wednesday, January 11.
A decision is expected by April 12, 2023.