Nine new homes at The Crooked Billet, Colney Heath, St Albans

“Planning permission is sought for the erection of nine new dwellings, creation of a new vehicular access onto High Street, associated parking and landscaping. The proposal also seeks to make offsite highway improvements and alterations, including upgrades to existing bus stops, the installation of new tactile paving, removal and relocation of street furniture, and the provision of a 2m wide footpath extending from where the existing footpath terminates in the east to…”

“The application site comprises approximately 0.57ha of land to the rear and side of the Crooked Billet public house (a Grade II Listed Building), which is listed as an Asset of Community Value (ACV). The site is characterised by a mix of previously…”

“- Harm to the character of the area; - Inappropriate development in the Green Belt; - Traffic generation; - Under provision of services; - Overdevelopment; - Insufficient infrastructure for other recent developments; - Houses will be unaffordable; - Brownfield sites are available in the area; - Irreversible nature of development; - Harm to heritage assets; - Incorporation of Swift bricks; - Highway safety concerns;”

“- Developments approved elsewhere in the village; - Harm to wildlife; - This is the only remaining public house in the village and this would reduce the size of the pub garden; - Damage caused by construction vehicles; - Vehicles will enter and exit via the existing pub carpark; - Impact on public footpath; - Loss of view; - Parking pressure; - Poor transport links; - Insufficient visibility; - Intrusion into open countryside; - Lack of pedestrian crossing; - Lack of…”

“This main issues in the consideration of this application are the principle of the development in the Green Belt, design, heritage, landscaping and trees, the amenity of future and neighbouring occupiers, the adjacent public house use, highway safety and parking, ecology and Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG).”

“It was moved by the Chair that the application be GRANTED conditional permission, subject to the conditions as set out in the officer’s report. It was CARRIED.”

“The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the Arboricultural Impact Assessment and Arboricultural Method Statement prepared by MMEnvironmental Ltd, dated 11 June 2026 (Rev 2), including the Tree Protection Plan, Tree Removal and Retention Plan, and all construction phase measures set out therein, unless otherwise required by conditions attached to this consent.”

“(a) a description and evaluation of the habitats to be created and enhanced on site; (b) detailed proposals for habitat creation and enhancement works (including planting specifications, timing and phasing)to achieve the biodiversity net gain in accordance with the approved Biodiversity Gain Plan; (c) a 30-year management and maintenance plan for all retained and created habitats, including objectives, management prescriptions and responsibilities; (d) measures to secure the…”