25 Mar 2024
Housebuilder Cala Homes has snapped up another potential development site, adding to their portfolio of land across the district.
The new acquisition from the Sewell Trust is land in north St Albans behind Harpenden Road, and will be their fourth local development site.
Cala, which is the “build to sell” real estate business of insurance and investment company Legal & General (L&G), now owns the following land with a view to building homes:
- North Harpenden (approximately 550) – application yet to be submitted
- Chiswell Green (390) – Appeal upheld by planning inspectors and approved by Secretary of State (March 2024)
- Bedmond Lane Nature Reserve (78)
- North St Albans (150) – former Sewell Trust land (outline application approved with 38 conditions including transport and flooding).
The Cala site in north St Albans is part of the larger north St Albans strategic area, which aims to deliver 1,100 dwellings.
Campaign group Team CLASH, which is fighting the proposals in north St Albans, argues that the development land is a ground and surface water flood zone above key aquifer filtration points, within the ecological corridor of Heartwood Forest, with no sustainable transport enhancements deliverable at the location.
They claim SADC is looking to release all the Green Belt land owned by Cala and L&G in the emerging Local Plan.
On Friday Housing Minister Felicity Buchan agreed to accept the appeals made by Alban Developments Ltd, Cala Homes, Redington Capital and Headlands Way for developments on the Green Belt at Chiswell Green Lane.
Spokesperson Gee Smeadley said this recent appeal decision has ramifications across the district: “After a long battle with residents group Keep Chiswell Green, the application was finally approved by the Housing Minister last week on the basis that this council has the strategy of releasing that site (and others) to development in the emerging Local Plan, despite the strong opposition from residents and lack of sustainable transport. So the Government, as directed by the Planning Inspectors, felt duty bound to allow the appeal and approve the application. On all accounts this is very disappointing.
“As we continue to digest the recent changes in north St Albans and the wider implications of Cala winning the appeal in Chiswell Green, we have some very serious concerns about the direction of travel of the Lib Dem-controlled council ahead of the local elections. They have failed to heed warnings from so many people and now nearly 1,000 dwellings will cause large scale devastation in Chiswell Green. Councillors need to deliver a Local Plan that residents want and which seeks protect the Green Belt, not squander it.
“We will continue to present the case that the land in North St Albans constitutes inappropriate development on all measures of Green Belt harm, lack of sustainable transport and flood risk.”
