A 135-home plan in the green belt has been given the go-ahead at appeal after “very special circumstances” were identified.

Cala Homes and Angle Property appealed Dacorum Borough Council’s refusal to sign-off on the project for Rectory Farm, Kings Langley, over “fundamental objections” including harm to the green belt.

To consider the appeal, the Planning Inspectorate visited the site on April 8 and 10 and held a public inquiry between April 9 and April 12.

The inspector narrowed the main issues down to whether a proposed Suitable Alterative Natural Greenspace (SANG) solution would mitigate any damage to the Chiltern Beechwoods Special Area of Conservation and whether green belt harm was outweighed by other considerations that amount to “very special circumstances”.

The final report said that the Planning Inspectorate was satisfied that the SANG issue could be addressed.

Watford Observer: Rectory Farm.Rectory Farm. (Image: Kings Langley and District Residents Association)

“In my view the delivery of 135 dwellings, 54 of which would be affordable, in an area where there is a chronic under supply of housing and staggering levels of affordability, is the weightiest consideration in the planning balance,” it added.

Watford Observer: The site.The site. (Image: Kings Langley and District Residents Association)

“I attach very substantial weight to these benefits.”

Due to this benefit for the area, among others, it was decided that “very special circumstances exist” and the proposed development should be permitted.