Eight dwellings at Land At Church Lane, Aldenham

What was proposed

The application proposed eight two-storey homes, with access from Church Lane, parking, cycle storage, gardens, landscaping and affordable housing.

“A new vehicular and pedestrian access would be provided via Church Lane. Internally, the site would be served by one access road, and each dwelling would be provided with allocated parking (2no. spaces for the 1, 2 and 3 bed units, and 3no. spaces for each 4 bed unit).”

“Off site, the applicant seeks to provide a 2 metre footpath link from the site entrance linking to the existing footpath on the eastern side of Church Lane with tactile crossing on the eastern and western side of Church Lane, together with a new tactile crossing on the existing footway crossing point on Radlett Road approximately 130m southwest of the site.”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The site was vacant shrubland in the Green Belt and Conservation Area, bounded by roads, homes, a pre-school, hedges and trees.

“The application site consists of a roughly rectangular shaped parcel of land amounting to 0.37 hectares, and consisting of vacant, unmanaged shrubland. The site is located to the south of Aldenham and is in the Green Belt.”

“The site contains established hedge planting to its eastern and southern boundaries and contains a number of trees (protected by virtue of being within a Conservation Area).”

Officer report

Consultees’ views

Highways, ecology, flood-risk, conservation, landscape and other consultees raised no objections or supported approval subject to conditions, while the parish council raised Green Belt concerns.

“Consultee Summary of Response HCC Highways No objections subject to conditions for a construction traffic management plan, visibility splays, off site improvement works (footway and crossing). National Highways No Objection. Advise that the development would not materially affect the safety, reliability and/or operation of the strategic road network. HCC Ecology No objections subject to conditions to secure Biodiversity Net Gain.”

“Place Services - Landscape Consultant No landscape objection, subject to conditions in respect to a hard and soft landscaping scheme and landscape management plan. HBC Environmental Health & Licensing Advise that there are no concerns in terms of potential land contamination.”

Officer report

Residents’ views

Fifteen households objected over Green Belt, conservation, infrastructure, rural character, ecology, flooding, traffic, noise and overlooking; three made other comments.

“15no. objection letters from local households were received, raising the following comments: -”

“- Inappropriate within the Green Belt – the site is not grey belt land; - The site is within a Conservation Area; - Strain on existing infrastructure. Bus service needs reinstating; - Harm to rural nature of the village. Overdeveloped layout. Acoustic fence needs screening; - Harm to ecology and habitats; - Harm to watercourse. Risk of flooding; - Additional traffic. Road network cannot cope with additional vehicles; - Dangerous at junction.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The agent spoke in support of the application.

Members’ discussion

Officers clarified affordable housing, solar panels, parking enforcement, application classifications and conditions, while members supported the proposal and praised its affordable housing.

“Clarification was also given that a Climate Change and Energy statement had been submitted with the application and solar panels were not being proposed. In response to queries, Officers confirmed an informative could be included for Officers to converse with the developer over whether solar panels could be accommodated but they would not be required to do so.”

“Members supported the proposal and commended the provision of affordable housing.”

Minutes

The vote

Thirteen members voted for the proposal, with no votes against and no abstentions.

“It was proposed by: Councillor D Lambert, seconded by Councillor C Gray that the recommendations as set out in the report be agreed.”

“For: (13 total) – Councillors L Silver, M Handley, A Kaza, P Morris, G Briski, C Gray, H Green, D Lambert, M Amron, M Allen, N Susman, B Rosehill, L Smith. Against: (0 total) – No votes. Abstain: (0 total) – No votes. Total votes cast: 13”

Minutes