31 May 2023
In the wake of Legal and General’s proposals for 550 homes on Green Belt to the north-west of Harpenden (pictured), other developers have come forwards with schemes for fields around the town.
The news comes as part of the district council’s ‘call for sites’ in order to meet government house-building targets and finally submit a working Local Plan.
Taylor Wimpey wants to develop 21.1 acres of countryside off Piper’s Lane with approximately 220 homes – an indeterminate amount of which will be affordable – plus a public open space.
Despite suggestions to the contrary by the developer, pedestrian access to the nearest school, Katherine Warington, would involve a two mile walk to avoid dangerous single track lanes with no footpaths.
Meanwhile, a developer called Wheathampstead Land Company has announced plans for up to 40 houses on 5.4 acres of farmland adjacent to Aldwick Manor, Aldwickbury School and Aldwickbury Golf Club.
The site includes three existing copses of mature woodland, and access would be via a narrow section of Piggotshill Lane.
Finally, an outline planning application has been submitted for 31 homes – comprising of 19 ‘custom and self-build’ and 12 ‘shared ownership’ properties – on 16.5 acres of farmland near Cross Lane, to the south of Harpenden.
Jeff Phillps, chair of the Harpenden Society, responded to the latest development proposals: “Harpenden is facing a multitude of opportunistic planning applications which currently amount to around 800 homes, to be constructed exclusively on Green Belt land immediately adjacent to the town’s existing housing footprint.
“The Society takes the view that these applications are an egregious attempt to concrete over prime agricultural land and in contravention of Green Belt legislation. They are also unlikely to be providing truly, not theoretically, affordable homes for first time buyers.
“However, we also have also objected to these proposals on the basis of their impact on the town’s infrastructure – roads, rail transport, health services, schools, as well as utilities such as water, drainage and sewage disposal.
“Furthermore, the disruption to the community caused by the construction of such large schemes over the time taken to complete them will be substantial.
“That said, the Society does not represent nimbyism, as we support the principle of ‘right development in the right place’. In the case of affordability, we would certainly be supportive of the flats proposed at Batford Mill, and other developments on brownfield land.”
