Land left to a museum trust is being classed as ‘open space’ by an inspector – but campaigners and councillors are unsure of what this actually means.

Developer Banner Homes Central Limited submitted an application to build 38 flats in The Paddock, in Bushey Heath, in February 2015.

The company appealed after the scheme was refused by Hertsmere Borough Council planning committee in July last year.

In December an inspection took place which concluded the appeal should be dismissed.

According to Linda Rauch, who has been spearheading the campaign to save the land, a new report by government inspectors says the land should be classed as open space rather than local green space – but nobody is sure what this means.

She said: “I do not know how much weight is given to open space land. If the developer wanted to put a café on the site, for example, they now can.

“It would be a huge risk if the developer put in another application as two applications have already been rejected.

“Reveley Lodge will still be able to use the land if it is open space. This is what we have wanted all along.”

The Paddock is part of the Reveley Lodge estate, which was bequeathed by Eila Chewitt, who died in 2003, to the Bushey Museum Property Trust.

One reason why Reveley Lodge was trying to for selling the land was in order to use the money to maintain the condition of the lodge.

Chairman of Reveley Lodge Granville Taylor said: “We’re very pleased the inspector has decided the Paddock should not be designated a local green space.

“It has taken a huge amount of work over a period of 18 months, and I am grateful to the Trustees, the Friends of Bushey Museum and everyone else who has supported us to oppose this designation.

“However, the inspector has proposed that the field should be designated as an open space.

"It is not clear what the exact implications are of this rather Solomon-like ruling.

“The trustees will carefully consider what, if anything, the Paddock can be used for, consulting with interested parties.

“Following this, we will draw up our future plans, which, if the Paddock can be used for nothing, will include the option of selling Reveley Lodge, in whole or part, which would be a community loss to the community.

“Over the last year we have improved the finances and the utilisation of Reveley.

“The opening of the very popular Mabel’s Vintage Tearooms has also improved visitor numbers hugely.

"But maintenance of a large house and garden requires substantial resources, and events and cafes alone will not be sufficient to ensure its future.”

Hertsmere borough councillor and Bushey Museum Trust chairman Cllr Carey Keates admitted he did not know what the designation ‘open space’ meant.

He said: “The land has been designated as an open space last week.

“Although I do not know what that means exactly. As a councillor I should know but I don’t.

“What weight is given to open space? Our next steps depend on what the inspection says.”

The National Planning Policy Framework says open space should not be built on unless an assessment has been undertaken showing the land shown to be surplus to requirements.

The land cannot be developed if it would be replaced by equivalent or better provision in terms of quantity and quality in a suitable location.

Tai Tsui, a principal planning officer at Hertsmere Borough Council, said: “Local green space has more protection than open space.

“Developers are still able to submit a planning application for the land, which would have to go through the planning committee.”

The full report from the inspector will be published at the end of August, after the six week consultation period.