Anger over housing plan (From Watford Observer)

Anger over housing plan

7:02am Sunday 15th July 2007 in News

A group of residents and councillors are angry at development plans for land to the rear of a number of properties in Nascot Wood.

An application for planning permission submitted to Watford Borough Council in May by developer VISAO, prompted the outcry.

The application proposed building eight terraced houses, one detatched house and two semi-detatched properties, on land to the rear of Ridge Lane and properties in Gammons Lane.

Steve Johnson, of Ridge Lane said: "We had more than 120 people come to a public meeting at St Luke's Church, Langley Way in opposition to this.

"There are so many reasons why this development is inappropriate I hardly know where to begin.

"If it was built, it would tower to the equivalent of a six-storey building behind Ridge Lane.

"We're worried about the access road, increased traffic and the density of the development.

"We're also worried about the loss of vegetation and the badgers living in the area."

He also raised concerns about the development being built on land above a train tunnel.

The council has received comments from 93 residents raising concerns about the development including its impact on nearby properties, road access and the principle of building on back gardens.

In their report to the council, officers have recommended the application be refused planning permission citing its failure to comply with a total of 14 policies in the Watford District Plan.

Officers have also judged it inappropriate on the basis of three planning guidance notes from central Government.

Criticisms include the loss of considerable areas of open space, the inappropriate character of the proposed homes, which is out of keeping with others in the area and the failure to respect the open landscape of the neighbourhood.

The application is due to be heard by the council's development control committee on Thursday.

The Watford Observer requested a comment from Consensus Planning, which is handling the development on behalf of VISAO, but is yet to receive one.