Councillors dubbed plans to turn an equestrian centre in Bushey into more than 30 homes as “carbuncle” and recommended it for refusal.

At a meeting tonight, the Development Management committee at Watford Borough Council, consulted on the proposals put forward by Clovercourt Fusion to build 34 houses and flats on the Bucks Meadow Riding School site in Bucks Avenue.

Majority of the development is in Bushey, but part of the riding school, including the entrance to the site, is in Oxhey Village, Watford.

As the neighbouring council, Watford Borough Council was asked by Hertsmere Borough Council on their views of the development. Hertsmere Borough Council will then have the final say on this part of the application.

The proposals, which include 12 affordable housing, also comprises of 74 car parking spaces and 11 hectares of Green Belt land that will be open to the public and a link provided to the Merry Hill circular walk.

Kim Baxter, committee member of the Oxhey Village Environment Group (OVEG) spoke against the application.

She raised concerns about the lack of parking and how this would not only affect traffic, but would mean that the roads will be congested with parked cars. She also said that the design of the buildings were too large and would be harmful to the openness of the surrounding Green Belt land.

Oxhey ward councillor, Shirena Counter, also spoke against the application. She described the development as a “carbuncle”.

She said: “The development would have a detrimental impact on the openness of the Green Belt. The current buildings are small and unobtrusive.

“Some of the proposed buildings are significantly closer together and to the existing houses to the point where they are in close proximity to the back gardens, which means a loss of privacy.

“They are dark and not in keeping with the current houses – the proposal is completely inconsiderate and insensitive.”

Committee members echoed the concerns raised by both cllr Counter and Ms Baxter.

Cllr Iain Sharpe said the development will not only have a “damaging” impact on the Green Belt, but also that the plans consist of terrace houses, which are not typical of the area.

He said the flats are too large, bulky and too high. The proposals are an “urbanisation” of an area which is clearly more “rural”.

Iain Taylor, head of planning at Clovercourt, spoke for the application. He said whilst there have been many objections and concerns raised about the traffic generation attributed, the application comply with all planning policies.

Councillors agreed that Watford would recommend the application to be refused on the grounds that the gaps between buildings are too small, the development itself is too large and not in keeping with the character of the area.

Ms Baxter said after the meeting: “We are very pleased that the councillors were unanimous in recommending Hertsmere object to the development. We are over the moon to have their support on this.

“This is what the residents wanted, however, it is not over. We will be speaking again at Hertsmere and we have also got the results back from our own traffic survey, which raises serious concerns.”

Watford Borough Council also have another application, which will look at the aspect of the development on their land. This includes the access to the site and will be decided by the planning committee at a later date.

The proposals will also be discussed by Hertsmere Borough Council’s planning committee at a later date.