Plans to build more than 200 houses on West Herts College Leggatts Campus have been formally challenged.

A planning brief, which has been drawn up to give developers an idea of what kind of development would be approved, was agreed by Mayor Dorothy Thornhill and Watford Borough council's Cabinet last week.

However, the proposals will now come before the council's scrutiny committee next month after the town's Green Party challenged the decision.

The party intend to question transport plans and address the loss of sports facilities at the Bill Everett Community Centre.

Councillor Steve Rackett, who represents Leggatts on Hertfordshire County Council said: "Our challenge is based on two grounds; firstly that the planning brief makes no mention of continued sports use on the site.

"Secondly the plans indicate that vehicles would access any large new housing estate by Leggatts Way only, leading to a substantial increase in traffic congestion on local residential streets."

He added: "We would point out that the Bill Everett Community Centre is heavily used for all sorts of sports, from swimming to badminton and five-a-side football. It is important that local sports facilities are retained.

"As for the issue of traffic, residents in Leggatts Way and the surrounding streets are rightly concerned about a massive increase if the only way vehicles can access the proposed 200 plus new housing development is via the local road system.

"There is an alternative route available in and out of the site, via the A41."

The meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 2, 2008.