Backgarden development fight continues (From Watford Observer)

Fight against backgarden development in Watford continues

2:08pm Thursday 23rd April 2009 in News By Michael Pickard

Residents in Watford fighting against a backgarden development are set to take their battle to the Court of Appeal.

For two years, members of the Ridge Association have been challenging plans to build homes on land bordered by Ridge Lane and Gammons Lane, proposed by Visao Ltd.

Their application for 11 homes was approved by a planning inspector, after being rejected by Watford Borough Council.

Last month residents lost a judicial review in the High Court to quash the inspector's decision, made more than one year ago, but they have vowed to continue their fight.

Meanwhile, Visao Ltd has submitted a third planning application with Watford Borough Council for the same plot of land – this time for 20 homes including some flats.

A second application for nine homes, lodged with the council before the planning appeal, was deferred while the legal action played out.

And this latest application includes an additional plot of land not considered in the first two applications.

Ridge Association representative Steve Johnson said: “The developer said in 2007 how he had no interest in any adjoining land but then he took the option to buy it. We feel we've been misled by the developer whose plan all along has been a large development.

“The judge left enough open to appeal. Our barrister feels we have a very good chance.

“We've gone from 11 homes to 20. Instead of building in the back gardens of three houses they're building in the back gardens of five, although they said they had no interest in any adjoining land.

“If they ever want to get round a table and discuss what would be acceptable, we would be happy to do that.”

He also revealed worries about the condition of a Network Rail tunnel underneath the proposed development, concerns about access to the new estate and of flooding.

He added: “If it was not for the highways or tunnel we would struggle for reasons but the reasons we have are very solid and its total over-development of the area.

“It's up to local residents to say we have had enough. Developers seem to be able to ride roughshod over you. The plans that are originally submitted never seem to be the ones agreed on.”

Innes Gray, from Consensus Planning on behalf of Visao, said they had “done everything that we should be expected to do”.

He said: “When we submitted the application we didn't control additional land. The judge considered it made no difference to the decision. I fail to see whether we should or shouldn't have disclosed interest in additional land. I'm 100 per cent of the opinion it makes no difference to whether the application we made is appropriate or not.“

Watford Borough Council confirmed it had received a third application for the site - an extra nine homes in addition to the 11 homes that had already been approved on appeal.

A representative said residents had requested leave to appeal to the Court of Appeal, which means this latest plan could be deferred until any court date.

Plans for the third application can be viewed at Cheslyn Gardens, Nascot Wood Road, Watford, between 7.30pm and 9pm on Monday evening.