A man is "outraged" over plans to build 40 retirement homes on a site where there are currently only four Victorian cottages.

Paul Rees, who lives in The Common, Kings Langley, has started a campaign after growing concerned that the development will "ruin" the picturesque look of the area and potentially disrupt the wildlife.

He says developers McCarthy and Stone are putting forward an application to transform the conservation area near his home.

The application is being submitted in July and may be approved by Dacorum Borough Council’s Planning Committee a few months later. 

Mr Rees said: "We are all outraged, as it will be a shame if the village is turned into a built up area.

"The new houses will look very odd next to our cottages in the Common - particularly as they were built in 1820.

"We also see a lot of animals in our gardens, such as muntjacs and badgers.

"If the project goes ahead, we feel it could have such a damaging effect on the area."

Mr Rees also believes the homes will cause problems with infrastructure.

He added: "It may lead to over-development, as well as add to parking problems and place an additional burden on our services, such as GP surgeries.

"When you sit in any of the gardens on the lower common at the moment, all you can hear is the cacophony of birdsong.

"If the proposals go ahead, that sound would be replaced with the noise of trees being cut down and the noise of construction."

Ali Maruf, regional managing rirector for McCarthy and Stone (North London Region) said: “Our plans would provide a specialist form of housing that would help to meet an identified and growing need in the area. 

“The development is adjoining a conservation area and McCarthy and Stone will ensure that the setting will not be harmed as the building will be in keeping with the buildings in the Conservation Area. We are also currently undertaking an ecology report, which will provide us with all the information to minimise the impact on surrounding ecology, as we intend to retain the leafy feel of the area.

“The majority of homeowners moving into our developments already live in the local area and are already using local services, such as the GP surgeries. As a result, there is unlikely to be a significant change in the number of new people signing up to local healthcare facilities. Should we receive planning permission, we expect to contribute to local services and infrastructure.”