PLANS to build 25 houses in a vehicle breakers' yard were scrapped on Monday night at a packed planning meeting in Redbourn Village Hall.

Permission for developing the 3.2 hectare Universal Salvage Site on Watling Street was refused because it would be against the area's Green Belt status, despite the site's current stacks of scrap cars, some several metres high.

The planned two-storey houses would have been taller than the existing one-storey building on the site but prospective developers Berkeley Homes (Chiltern) Ltd claimed that the 'very special circumstances' of clearing the site of any contamination would enhance the area.

St Albans District Council officers found 'no special circumstances' to recommend the plan and the plans north sub-committee unanimously refused the application.

Planning officer Alan Moorhouse said that the plan went against the council's policy to protect the Green Belt.

The officers' report was backed by councillors.

Councillor Gillian Clark echoed the fears for the Green Belt, but recognised, 'the look of the present site is not that salubrious.'

The use of the site as a scrapyard was granted before the introduction of present planning policy.