Hill Farm Close: Housing trust appeals against council decision (From Watford Observer)

Hill Farm Close: Watford Community Housing Trust appeals against council decision

12:00pm Wednesday 20th February 2013 in News By Rebecca Perring, Reporter

Watford Community Housing Trust has put in an appeal against the council's decision to refuse their plans to bulldoze a children’s play area in order to build a dozen affordable new homes.

In December last year the trust’s plans to build six houses and a three storey block of flats between Hill Farm Avenue and Hill Farm Close in Leavesden, were refused by Three Rivers District Council.

The housing trust has now put in an appeal against the refusal, which will be considered by the Secretary of State for the Environment, Owen Paterson.

The appeal will be considered on the basis of written statements from parties, a site visit by an inspector and comments made on the original application for planning permission.

Since the original plans were put in, local residents and councillors have campaigned against a "loss of a green oasis" and nearby play area, which would leave children without somewhere to play.

On hearing the news local district councillor Stephen Giles-Medhurst said: "both Leavesden and Woodside councillors would stand united in supporting the campaign against the plans."

He said: "We wish the housing trust would have backed off and accepted the views of local residents and councillors.

"However the appeal was not unexpected and it was clear the housing trust did not agree with the concerns of the local residents and councillors.

"Hopefully we will be able to persuade the inspector to support our views. We will fight vigorously to support Three River District Council’s decision to refuse the original planning application on the basis of planning."

Councillor Giles-Medhurst added he would be encouraging residents and councillors to write a letter in support of the refusal.

Three Rivers Council refused the application on the basis the plans would be "excessively prominent within the street scene" and there would be "a loss of valued community open space".

Residents and councillors will have until March 24 to send in written comments in response to the appeal.