18 Dec 2025
Redbourn residents have reacted to a planning application for more than 4,000 new homes on their doorstep – the controversial East Hemel development.
Set across 975 acres to the east of Hemel Hempstead, the scheme will include various health and community facilities, up to four new schools, new transport links and a new 63-hectare country park.
It will be located on land east of Hemel Hempstead, south of the B487 Hemel Hempstead Road (Redbourn Road) and north of the A4147 St Albans Road.
It has been submitted by the Crown Estate, and forms a key part of the Hemel Garden Communities (HGC) programme – a long-term commitment to transform Hemel Hempstead through the delivery of up to 11,000 new homes and thousands of new jobs by 2050.
An outline planning application has been submitted to both SADC and Dacorum Borough Council to agree the principle of development and fix certain elements (known as ‘parameters’) of the proposals – including the scale of development and locations of different uses across the site.
But the project has been condemned by villagers in neighbouring Redbourn, who fear their community will end up being merged with Hemel.
Parish council leader and independent district councillor for the village, David Mitchell, said: “This planning application is the beginning of the end for Redbourn as a rural village. If all the proposed development goes ahead, Redbourn Parish will go from around 2,500 houses to 7,500, with the loss of a thousand acres of Green Belt and top-class farmland.
“The artist’s impression of how it’s going to look fills me with horror. It’s the worst kind of over-development imaginable.
“The whole area will be a building site for 15 or 20 years.
“Of course, we need new housing but not like this. I can’t imagine that many of the planners or councillors responsible for creating this monstrous project would want to live here.”
Nick Johnson, leader of Redbourn Residents Group, said: “We accept the need for more housing and are willing to take our fair share. But proposals like East Hemel and the LAT site to the north will treble our village from 2,500 to 7,500 homes, effectively merging us with Hemel Hempstead. That goes well far beyond fair, sustainable or even safe growth. It’s not hyperbole to say crime, road traffic accidents and pollution will all increase significantly as a result of these plans.
“Most worrying of all is that both our local and district councils have told us they are powerless to challenge “grey belt” developments. Our highways authorities could step in – but incredibly they have a policy to increase traffic, not reduce it. Their argument is that avoiding building new roads and actively supporting new housing will save money on road building and encourage more cycling and walking.
“Developers are even suggesting horse-riding as a commuting option.
“It’s infuriating. We have practically no legal routes to object to what amounts to the extinction of our village.
“The whole thing is beyond negligent. It’s clear the planning system is broken by design, not by mistake. The only logical conclusion is this Government has nothing but contempt for the serious concerns of local residents – and that villages across England face the same fate unless national planning policy is changed.”
The SADC application has the reference 5/2025/1964 and comments are requested by January 29.
