10 Aug 2023
The largest development in Park Street after the proposed rail freight interchange could cast a further shadow over the lives of local residents.
An application from Scott Properties to build 95 houses on 11 acres of arable land in has finally been listed after its submission one and a half years ago, and is due
before SADC’s planning committee this coming Monday.
Planning officers are recommending that councillors should approve the application, which is for land between the caravan site and Watling Street.
Greenbelt, a group established by resident Paul King to fight such developments, has been running a campaign to oppose the application.
Paul said: “Yet again we are seeing a developer attempting to convince councillors that little harm would be done by concreting over another beautiful arable field.
“The truth is that this is an important separator between Park Street and St Albans. Approval of this scheme would therefore eliminate Park Street as a separate village and drive a coach and horses through the government’s Green Belt policy.
“Several hundred objections have been lodged by the public, yet planning officers appear dismissive of the widespread public opposition.”
St Stephen’s Parish Council chair David Yates said: “We have grave concerns about the nature and quality of the Green Belt evidence that is being presented to the committee to justify this development.
“On the far side of the open fields from which the site would be carved, a local lane is described as easily recognisable and likely to be permanent yet Watling Street, which has followed the same line for thousands of years, is described as not necessarily permanent. It is even suggested that a thin line of trees within the open farmland could form the basis of a more permanent Green Belt boundary than this ancient road.
“Three independent studies, from SKM, Aecom and Arup, agree that the area where the proposed site is located performs a significant Green Belt role. The only justification for building on the Green Belt here appears to be ‘St Albans needs houses. These are houses. Therefore, St Albans needs them’.”
The application has been re-submitted on two occasions, which has given rise to two extensions to the consultation period.
Paul added: “Building 95 houses next to one of the busiest and most dangerous roundabouts in the county will make a chronic traffic situation worse. There will be extra pressure on local services, there is a lack of sustainability given poor public transport in Park Street, and above all, a loss of increasingly rare beautiful open farmland in the area and wildlife.”
Conditions for building the homes include a Section 106 agreement for 40 per cent affordable housing, the expansion of Killigrew Primary School and Marlborough Science Academy, a contribution towards sustainable transport and a biodiversity onsite compensation scheme.
Former Cllr Richard Curthoys previously called-in this application, stating: “The site lies entirely within Green Belt and represents nearly the entire separation space between St Albans and Park Street, along the line of Watling Street. The proposed development would therefore affect many residents in Park Street, so should be considered carefully by committee, to determine whether it meets the ‘very special circumstances’ requirement for building in the Green Belt and whether the application is in a ‘sustainable location’…
“The proposed site was one of the locations put forward by the land owner in a recent ‘call for sites’ in relation to the works on the emerging strategic Local Plan and is in
the Green Belt. As this is site in the Green Belt and will affect many residents in Park Street this application needs to be considered very carefully by committee to discuss the above reasons for call in and determine if this is a ‘sustainable location’ and if the necessary ‘very special circumstances’ exist to permit building in the Green Belt.”
Anyone concerned about the development (5/2022/0267) can email Paul on greenbelt@gmx.com.
The meeting is open for the public to attend at the Civic Centre at 7pm on Monday August 14. It can also be seen on a webcast, accessed from the council’s website.
